Raul Midon Biography
The son of an African-American mother and an Argentinean father, blind singer Raul Midon is known for his passionate songs, optimistic outlook, and rich vocal range. He has been compared to Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Jose Feliciano, and Richie Havens. Midon has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.
Midon was born in Embudo, New Mexico, a small town north of Santa Fe. He and his identical twin brother, Marco, were born six weeks prematurely and were blinded shortly after birth by spending time in an incubator without adequate eye protection from the oxygen-rich atmosphere inside it. Midon’s father was an Argentinean-born dancer who left his home at 17 and danced throughout the United States before settling in New Mexico with Midon’s mother, who was originally from New York City. Midon’s mother died when he and Marco were only four years old. After her death, they were raised by their father and their maternal grandmother, and were taught a positive attitude toward their lives. Midon’s father told Raquel Cepeda in People, "I realized that a positive attitude was the most important asset they could acquire. They embraced that."
Midon knew at a very early age that he was interested in music. He wrote on his website that when he was a child, "I’d be riding in a car and I’d listen to the rhythm of the turn signal. I heard music in everything, from a car horn to the crickets." Inspired by the rhythms of Argentinean folk music, and by his father’s example, he began playing drums. He told Imani Dawson in Myrtle Beach Online, "Instead of watching TV, our idea of fun was beating conga drums for hours and hours."
Midon was born in Embudo, New Mexico, a small town north of Santa Fe. He and his identical twin brother, Marco, were born six weeks prematurely and were blinded shortly after birth by spending time in an incubator without adequate eye protection from the oxygen-rich atmosphere inside it. Midon’s father was an Argentinean-born dancer who left his home at 17 and danced throughout the United States before settling in New Mexico with Midon’s mother, who was originally from New York City. Midon’s mother died when he and Marco were only four years old. After her death, they were raised by their father and their maternal grandmother, and were taught a positive attitude toward their lives. Midon’s father told Raquel Cepeda in People, "I realized that a positive attitude was the most important asset they could acquire. They embraced that."
Midon knew at a very early age that he was interested in music. He wrote on his website that when he was a child, "I’d be riding in a car and I’d listen to the rhythm of the turn signal. I heard music in everything, from a car horn to the crickets." Inspired by the rhythms of Argentinean folk music, and by his father’s example, he began playing drums. He told Imani Dawson in Myrtle Beach Online, "Instead of watching TV, our idea of fun was beating conga drums for hours and hours."
Profile
Born Raul Midon in Embudo, NM; son of Sandra and Jorge Midon (a dancer); twin brother of Marco (a NASA engineer); married Kathleen, 1999.
Education: Attended University of Miami.
Education: Attended University of Miami.
Contact Information
Address: Record company--Manhattan Records, 150 5th Ave., New York, NY 10011
Website: http://www.midon.com
Website: http://www.midon.com
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