El tres de enero/January 3rd

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¡Feliz cumpleaños a ... Erick Brian Colon! (2001-        )
Photo from @ErickBrianColon on Twitter

Born in Havana, Cuba, Colon is the youngest of five members of the boy band CNCO, formed in 2015 on the show La Banda (which is produced by Simon Cowell and Ricky Martin and aims to launch a new boy band every year). In 2016, CNCO performed their song Devuélveme el corazón in Times Square for Univision's New Year's festivities (Click here to see). Their YouTube video for Reggaeton Lento has more than one BILLION views! (Click here to join those billion+ viewers). Other videos, such as Tan Fácil (here) and Para enamorarte (here) have millions of views as well. CNCO has toured with Ariana Grande, Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, and Pitbull.

To see Erick Brian Colon's La Banda audition (which has some nicely understandable Spanish for beginning students when the host asks him ¿De dónde vienes? ¿Cómo te llamas? at minute 1:30), click HERE).

For resources for teaching Spanish, Level 1 through AP, CLICK HERE.

Other events of note on January 3rd:

1823 - Stephen F. Austin receives a grant of land in Texas from the newly formed government of Mexico
1932 - Martial law is declared in Honduras to stop a revolt by banana workers of the United Fruit Company
1961- The U.S. severs diplomatic ties with Cuba after Cuba nationalizes American assets
1962- Pope John Paul XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro
1990 - Manuel Noriega, former leader of Panama, surrenders to American forces

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