Fidel Nadal

Life and work

Nadal was born into an academic family in Buenos Aires, his mother was an anthropologist and his father a film director and a leading fighter for the recognition of the rights of black Argentines. According to his own recollection, he was heavily influenced by the music listened to by his parents, mainly blues and jazz. His ideology involves deep Rastafarian culture from countries like Jamaica and Haiti; one of his inspirations, as with many reggae groups, is Bob Marley. His main influences are related to reggae rhythms and Afro-Argentine culture. Nadal is of Angolan descent.

In 1984 he played for the first time as a singer in a band. A year later he founded the band Todos Tus Muertos, which blended together reggae with punk influences and hip hop. With this mix, the group was very successful and recorded their first album in 1988 followed by a record deal with Universal Music. Influenced by reggae rhythms and the music of the Afro Argentine community, Nadal is best known for his work with Todos Tus Muertos. Created in the 1980s and separated in 2000, the band produced 6 albums before its dissolution. In its final years, Lumumba appeared on the rasta stage with Nadal. In its short but productive history, it released 3 albums which met with approval by followers of reggae, but then it was dissolved. In the last albums of Todos Tus Muertos and Lumumba, Fidel felt the need to play more reggae and leave the hard music behind, but when both projects disappeared, he decided to go on by himself.

In 2001, this new project was born, with a completely rastafarian image and style. The same year, he launched three albums, Selassie I Dios Todopoderoso, with lots of reggae and lyrics with pure rasta feeling, including a cover of Mexican group Los Tigres del Norte, Cuando gime la raza, and Cabeza negra, with numerous guest musicians (which gave more variety to the album and made it different from the first one). Finally, Repatriación appeared, with a number of collaborators, and with another cover of a Tigres del Norte tune, La Puerta Negra. In 2008 he released the hit single International Love, off the album of the same name, whose dreamier/electronic sound has made it a hit on many Latino radio stations and attracted newer non-reggae listeners.

In 2009, his hit single International Love was included on the "FIFA Trax" on the latest edition of EA Sports football games, FIFA 10. In 2011 he made three remix with reggaeton artist from Puerto Rico and Mexico, two with De La Ghetto in the song "Te Robaste Mi Corazón" Remix and "Te Robaste Mi Corazón Cumbia" Mix, with Julio Voltio in "International Love 2011" Remix, and with Adrian Banton "Dejenme Fumar" Remix

With Todos Tus Muertos

With Mano Negra

With Lumumba

Solo discography