Poor Pop Star Busking On Streets After Grammy Nomination

Story By: Jonathan MaciasSub EditorJoseph GolderAgency: Central European News 

Video Credit:CEN

This Cuban pop-singer who was nominated for the Latin Grammys in 2013 has been spotted singing in the streets in shabby clothes for money after he reportedly fell into poverty.

According to local media, Latin-pop-music Cuban singer Michel Maza was spotted singing in a street in Colombia, although it is unclear the city where the video was recorded.

Maza belonged to the Latin pop-music Cuban band ‘La Charanga Habanera’ which was nominated for the Latin Grammy in 2013 for the album ‘Live in the U.S.A”.

Picture Credit:CEN

Peruvian folklore singer Lucia de la Cruz shared the video on Facebook and said: “You don’t know how sad I feel, how sad my heart feels to see this (video) about my Michel Maza in Colombia”

The footage shows the singer singing in the street in old shabby clothes while he dances clumsily to a guitar rhythm that a girl is playing next to him.

Cuban radio host Rolando Zaldivar wrote on Facebook: “I hope we can all help him and not criticise as in the end, this life gives you many twists and turns”

Picture Credit:CEN

According to Cuban newspaper ‘Asere’, Maza was arrested in January 2012 after a taxi driver in the Peruvian capital Lima filed a criminal complaint about kidnapping and robbery.

Taxi driver Arthur Lee Villalobos Makino told local authorities he took Maza to an establishment where Maza’s accomplice pointed a gun at him and kept him captive for around 12 hours.

The singer was reportedly sentenced to 25 years in prison but local media report he was released after one year in jail. It is unclear why he was released early.

The artist said he was going to try to relaunch his career and reportedly performed at some gigs.

Maza told local media at the time: “I am the singer of the people, I own the streets and I am preparing my return as it should be”

Reports claim he never had success again and he fell into drug abuse.

Maza claimed that fame ruined his life as he could not handle it.

Maza told local media: “I was very young, I became famous at 16. I got to know the world with La Charanga Habanera, and I was a child, I did not know what was good and bad.”

He also added: “I had no idea what was going to happen to me later. It is an experience that leaves a mark on you, but I know where to guide my daughters.”

The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.