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Edgardo Armando Franco, widely known as El General, is a Panamanian former reggae artist, hailed as one of the pioneers of "Reggae en Español." Born on September 27, 1969, in Río Abajo, Panama, Franco's musical journey began at the tender age of 12, inspired by the beats of Bob Marley and Donkey Banton. His unique fusion of dancehall reggae music with Spanish lyrics brought an innovative twist to the reggae genre, securing his place as a trendsetter in the Latin music scene. With a career that started when he was only 19, El General's early international hits, "Te Ves Buena" and "Tu Pum Pum," carved out a path for many Spanish-language dancehall reggae artists. These initial successes were spurred by his collaboration with a Jamaican producer that paved the way for his entry into the commercial market. El General's talent was further showcased in his performance on "Robi-Rob's Boriqua Anthem" from C+C Music Factory's album Anything Goes in 1994. This performance surprised fans and broadened his appeal in the Latin music industry. Over his 17-year career, El General's albums achieved gold status 32 times and platinum 17 times while hits like "Muevelo," "Rica y Apretadita," and "Te Ves Buena" remain popular across Latin America. In 1992, he received an MTV award for Best Latin Video for "Muevelo" and was named the Rap Artist of the Year at the Lo Nuestro Awards in 1993. El General's music also served as a form of protest, echoing the hardships faced by Afro-Panamanian laborers during the construction of the Panama Canal. His songs provided commentary on societal issues, police brutality, and government corruption. His impact on the genre has been profound, influencing the evolution of Reggaeton and inspiring artists like Maicol Superstar. However, in 2004, El General announced his retirement to focus on producing, and later returned to his faith as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
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