[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 35 (Friday, February 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E422-E423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  IN HONOR OF RAFAEL, ONE OF LATIN AMERICA'S MOST TALENTED PERFORMERS

                                 ______


                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 23, 1995
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and honor to 
one of Latin America's greatest performers, Rafael. A true symbol of 
Spanish culture, Rafael has dazzled and entertained us with his 
magnificent talent.
  A native Andalucian, Rafael moved to Madrid at a very tender age. 
While in Madrid Rafael began singing at the age of 5, thus began a 
singing career that would entertain and awe audiences worldwide. He won 
first prize for Best Voice in the children's category at the Salzburg 
Music Festival in Austria, an award that is of great prestige and 
acclaim. He began his professional singing career at the age of 14 and 
since then he has starred in several films, TV series, and innumerable 
musical specials. He has entertained and sung to millions of adoring 
fans.
  Rafael is the only Latin American singer to win the Uranium Record 
Award. He has built one of the most successful singing careers selling 
over 78 million records, an achievement that made him one of the 
highest selling entertainers in the world. He has also been awarded 318 
gold records and 46 platinum records. He has recorded a total of 70 
LP's, 55 of them in Spanish.
  His unique singing style has won him much praise. He has received 
countless standing ovations from crowds all over the world, from Russia 
to the United States. He has sung before sold out crowds at Madison 
Square Garden, the place where he made his first American appearance. 
Rafael has also appeared in other renowned theaters such as the Opera 
House in Sydney, Australia, the Kennedy Center in Washington, Carnegie 
Hall in New York City, the Theatre of the Opera in Leningrad and Moscow 
just to name a few. He has won 
[[Page E423]] praise and recognition from world leaders, especially 
from the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I.
  Rafael has enjoyed a long and distinguished career. He is one of the 
most unique individuals to grace the stage. His contributions to the 
Hispanic community are second to none. I am very honored to be 
recognizing such a wonderful individual.


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