Manuel Imán

Myspace Layouts - Solid Colors Myspace Layouts
Myspace Codes - Myspace Generators - Myspace Backgrounds
Manuel Iman (AKA Manuel Rodriguez) has long been recognized as one of Spain's most innovative musicians, both as a guitarist and as a composer. Born in Sevilla, he became involved in music at a very early age. His first recording came in 1975 when he made 14 de Abril with the group Goma. The album was one of the first fusion explorations of that time and has now become a collector’s item. Three of the pieces of this album were included in the soundtrack of the successful film Manuela in 1976Mid 1976 the first seeds of the group Iman were sown and by the next year, the full line up were gaining ground with their live performances. They were taken on by CBS for whom they recorded Iman, Califato Independiente. The critics raved over its innovative and subtle combination of Flamenco, Rock and Eastern roots. El Pais newspaper called it “.... The best first album ever made by a Spanish band and is certainly a lot more pleasant to listen to than most of the foreign material available in this country...”In 1980, Camino del Aguila was released in which they incorporated tropical influences. One of Manuel’s compositions was included in the soundtrack of the French film Frigg force 9. According to the SGAE (Society of Authors of Spain), it became the second highest title in bringing more royalties from a foreign country, The band became a legendary name in Spanish rock and their recordings are being re-released on CD by Museam a French record company. In 1997 Sony Music Spain re-released these two albums and this year Ramalama (subsidiary of Sony Music) has released a Special Edtion with the two remastered albums.After moving to Madrid in 1981, he became a sought-after creative force in the recording industry and produced, performed and arranged works for artists as varied as Lole & Manuel, Paco y Pepe de Lucia, Pata Negra, Kiko Veneno, Ole-Ole, Los del Rio, Remedios Amaya, Emilio Aragon and many more. He also worked doing music for commercials and documentaries.In 1985, Manuel got involved in forming a commercial project, the pop band La Decada Prodigiosa, covering 60’s songs (Emi Hispavox), that had outstanding success. The first five albums released sold 2,5 million copies and the band toured Spain extensively for five years and appeared in many TV shows. One of the biggest live shows took place in Tenerife island (1989) where Manuel performed with the band in front of more than 250.000 people. He also has been performing several times for the King of Spain and his Family in official and private parties along the years . In 1991 he began work on a solo album, entitled La Danza del Espacio for Productora Andaluza, released in 1992. The record received excellent write-ups, and several pieces from it have been included in compilation records as Voices of Europe (Blue Flame, Germany), Nuevas Musicas (SGAE, Spain) and Duende (Ellipsis Art, New York)He worked on music for the video commissioned by Tele Expo (the TV station created for the 92 World Exhibition) Sevilla entre dos Exposiciones. As well he coordinated and directed a large scale tour entitled Rock Andaluz- Ayer y Hoy in which important names from the past and present were brought together.In 1995 he moved to Malibu, California, composing and producing music for video and preparing a new album. Called from Spain in 1996 for a new project Manuel was the Musical Director and music composer of El Circo del Arte show, a successful new project produced by the show business mogul Emilio Aragon.In 1997 he returned to Malibu and was working as a producer and composer for Dunrite Productions. In 1998 the CD Reflections was released with Domo Records, an instrumental collection that includes three pieces from Manuel. His music has also been included in Music for the Spirit, from Domo Records, sharing the track list with Kitaro. As well a new solo CD Songs from a grateful heart, an instrumental Spanish guitar collection which was released in 1998 (Visions International) For the same company, he also worked with more artists in the CD Live in Long Beach. In addition he prepared another solo album Flowers in the desert (EverSound), released in October 98, working with Grammy Award winner Roger Nichols and Grammy Award nominee Paul Dieter.In 1999 music from Manuel has been included in the compilation CD Expressions (EverSound) and produced and performed three carols for the compilation CD Tidings of Joy (EverSound), one of them, Little drummer boy featuring his daughter Lucia Iman. In 2000 Manuel has been working in a new album Legacy, based and inspired in old Indian bhajans creating a fusion with blues, reggae, Flamenco, rap, Brazilian and African music having the collaboration of outstanding musicians from around the world like Dan Moretti, Abraham Laboriel, Madan Gopal, Gita Jaiyaram, Bob Nochols, Jim Monahan, Scarlet Rivera, Nigel Holton, Windy Barnes, Sanjay Talwar and many more, having Roger Nichols again in the mixing and mastering for this project.. In 2001 he is been producing and arranging Save the Day for Visions International, Untraveled Road, an alternative country CD for Steve Mc Peters and Rich beyond words for Rich Neel. In 2003 his new release, Your Love is my Blessing, was an album full of flavors of Latin and Flamenco music blended with the genuine touch of Manuel Spanish guitar and featuring his talented daughter songwriter and singer Lucia Iman.In 2007 Manuel Iman received a Special Award in the event Tribute to Andalusian Rock as a genuine pioneer of World and Fusion music in which he performed with his band music from his solo albums and recreated old hits. The City Hall of Jerez celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the birth of the band Iman Califato Independiente, sponsoring the reunion of the band, in which Manuel was the leader and main creative force. Also he has been performing with the Sonora Big Band in Blues Festivals. This year he has been performing in Spain in Territorios Festival of World Music in Seville , Festival of Bornos and Cádiz among others.Email: [email protected] Webs www.califatoindependiente.net (Spanish) www.collaborationworks.net www.manueliman.com (in construction) www.eversound.com