El veinte de febrero/February 20th

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¡Feliz cumpleaños a ... Jay Hernández (Javier Manuel Hernández Jr.)! (1978-       )

Photo from tvguide.com. Click HERE. 
A chicano actor born in Montebello, California to third generation Mexican-American parents, Hernández was discovered by a talent agent while riding an elevator in a Los Angeles high rise. He made his television debut in the 5th and 6th seasons of NBC's Hang Time, which his now-wife, Daniella Deutscher, also starred in. He made his film debut in the 2001 movie Crazy/Beautiful with Kirsten Dunst. Many movies followed, including Friday Night Lights, Hostel, Carlito's Way: Rise to Power, Max, Bad Moms, and Suicide Squad (he speaks about his role as Diablo in this 2016 Entertainment Weekly article). He is currently on Will Smith's Netflix blockbuster Bright (see him, along with Will Smith, interviewed for the premiere for Telemundo's Un Nuevo Día, HERE. Smith attempts to speak Spanish. Hernández, who does not speak Spanish but who, according to the interview, appreciates a good tamale, has his answers translated).

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

Other February 20th birthdays:

Ibrahím Ferrer (1927-2005): An acclaimed Cuban musician, he was a member of many musical groups, including the Buena Vista Social Club and the Afro-Cuban All-Stars. Born in a dance club, his mother died when he was 12, leaving him without parents, so he was forced to sing in the streets to try to earn money. He was a member of the Santería faith, which is a blend of traditional African religions and Catholicism. Listen to his solo debut with Buena Vista Social Club, HERE.

Photo from kidsmusic.info. Click HERE. 
Matt Hunter (1998-    ): A singer born on Manhattan, New York City, to a Colombian mother and an Italian father, Hunter was the voice of Diego on Go, Diego! Go! and Dora la Exploradora before becoming a sensation with his YouTube videos in Spanish and English (one of my students' favorites is Mi Señorita, from 2012). Hunter won "Favorite Pop Artist" at Univisión's Premios Juventud in 2013. He has performed in the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Spain, Chile, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Argentina, Costa Rica, and Ecuador. Marc Anthony is a big fan and calls him "the future of music" (Read more about that HERE).

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