Raphael Is Still Alive and He's Coming to the James L. Knight Center March 19

via raphaelnet.com

Raphael, AKA El Divo de Linares.

​Did anyone else see this concert listing on Ticketmaster and say to themselves, "Holy shit! Raphael is still alive?" Though, in retrospect, there's the distinct possibility that if you're familiar with this 67-year-old Spanish singer, you might be offended by that wisecrack, as you may very well be old yourself. But take heart 'cause 70 is the new... 39?

Joking aside, El Divo de Linares (so nicknamed because he's considered a male diva and he was born in Linares) is a living legend. And that has only marginally to do with the fact that he's damn near a relic.

There we go again. Sorry.

Sure, his professional career, which began officially when he won a festival competition in 1962, is staring down the half-century mark. Of course, when your career includes some 50 albums amassing 326 gold records, 49 platinum records, and something most people probably don't even know exists, called a uranium record, for 50 million copies of a single production sold, age is a pretty meaningless number.

Raphael. Saturday, March 19. James L. Knight Center, 400 SE Second Ave., Miami. The concert begins at 8 p.m. and tickets cost $55 to $105 plus fees via ticketmaster.com. Call 305-372-4634 or visit jlkc.com.

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