Mexican rock legends that make up the powerhouse group Maná officially received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last Wednesday and one of the ways they'll be celebrating the achievement is by going out on the road for their politically charged Latino Power Tour.
On Wednesday, Maná was joined by friends, notably, Latina actress America Ferrera, as well as guitarist and sometimes Maná collaborator, Carlos Santana. Ferrera stated at the ceremony, which took place in front of Live Nation on Hollywood Boulevard, "You have been pioneers in this industry and nothing short of revolutionary," NBC Southern California reports.
The band formed in Guadalajara, Mexico in 1986 and the band's rise has been nothing short of revolutionary for Latinos in music. Maná has won four Grammys and countless other music awards. The band has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide. Now with an election looming, Maná has turned its attention to one of the passions constantly mentioned in its music: politics. Lead singer Fher Olvera said in a statement: "We have baptized our new tour 'Latino Power,' because with the strength of their collective vote this year, U.S. Latinos can further empower our community - demanding more respect and effecting real change in the living conditions and opportunities for our people," according to The Venture.
Olvera has also been critical of GOP candidate Donald Trump's controversial comments regarding Mexican and Latin American immigrants. At a Maná concert at the Staples Center in June, Olvera mused to the crowd, "(Trump) said we were trash; he said that the people who came from Latin America and Mexico are rapists, thugs and drug dealers," The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Olvera and his band hope that their status as Mexican cult heroes and now Hollywood Walk of Famers will inspire people to come to their shows and, most importantly, vote in November.
