Source: Juanes postpones concert in Miami

[February 01, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Juanes is canceling his April 15 concert at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami because it was to fall on the 50th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs Invasion, a source close to the singer told The Associated Press.

The source, who did not want to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter, told The Associated Press that when the Miami show was booked, the Colombian singer didn't realize it was the anniversary and that it was the only date available at the time.

"Cuban exiles are pressuring us and the sponsors not to do it. ... It's not a date to celebrate in Miami," said the source. "The pressure is big."

A new date will be announced in the next few days. Tickets for the concert were already on sale.

In 2009, Juanes was in the eye of the storm after announcing that he would take his "Peace Without Borders" show to the Revolution Square in Havana.

Although at first he considered canceling that show after criticism, the rocker and activist explained his idea was to bring his message of peace and his music to the Cuban people, not to sing in favor of the Cuban government.

The concert, before a million spectators, was considered a triumph.

"It is a strange coincidence" that Juanes is again in conflict with the Cuban exiles, said his spokesman. "That is not our intention."

In April 1961, about 1,500 Cuban exiles trained under CIA guidance in Guatemala and invaded Cuba in a failed bid to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist regime.

Juanes' "P.A.R.C.E." tour starts March 10 in Seattle.

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Online:

http://www.juanes.net/

[Associated Press; By SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS]

AP writer Andrea Rodriguez contributed with this report from Havana.

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