Vives to Auction Off Swarovski-Studded Guitar Designed by Mauricio Benitez for Charity

Carlos Vives is ready to give back to his community…

Tis November, the 54-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter is planning to auction off a guitar studded with 50,000 Swarovski crystals that he played in concerts on his Mas Corazon Profundo tour of Bogota and Santa Marta.

Carlos Vives' Swarovski-Studded Guitar

The instrument will be put up for bids on November 4 in Bogota to raise money for a social project in Santa Marta, the city where Vives was born.

“The guitar goes on the auction block to collect funds to rebuild the sports complex in the Pescadito neighborhood,” a project he shares with ex-soccer star Carlos “Pibe” Valderrama, also a native of that city, according to the auctioneers.

The guitar’s design was the work of Mauricio Benitez, known as “Mr. Bling,” and was inspired by the wide-brimmed “vueltiao” sombrero typical of Colombia’s Atlantic coast, woven with natural fibers and which was declared a “cultural symbol” of the country by Congress in 2004.

Notable among Benitez’s works are the crystal statuettes of Our Lady of Guadalupe and of artists and athletes like Alejandro Fernandez, Don Omar, Venus Williams and Falcao Garcia.

Vives Reveals Marc Anthony as the Latest Confirmed Guest at His ‘Vives y Sus Amigos’ Concert

Carlos Vives is bringing out the big guns for a special summer concert.

The 53-year-old Colombian singer, composer and actor has been unveiling the musical guests who will join him for a concert being called “Vives y Sus Amigos” in Bogotá on August 13.

Carlos Vives

In a social media campaign meant to build hype and drive sales for his Más Corazón Profundo tour, Vives announced the artists confirmed to perform with Vives at the El Campín soccer stadium in front of nearly 50,000 people are reggaeton superstar Wisin, Afro-Colombian trio Chocquibtown, Latin urban breakout sensation Maluma, Brazilian singer Michel Teló, and salsa giant Marc Anthony.

Vives announced his “Cuando Nos Volvamos a Encontrar” collaborator as his latest guest. “Welcome Marc Anthony to Bogotá’s El Campín stadium!” Vives tweeted on Tuesday night.

The day before, Vives offered a clue as to who his next guest would be — just as he’s been doing since the viral campaign started May 11.

“My next friend is an unconditional one and he likes salsa. He’s happy to sing for us,” tweeted Vives about Anthony, with whom he is also performing in 11 U.S. markets as part of the UNIDO2 (United Part 2) tour kicking off this September.

Who will the final surprise guest be? With only one more slot to fill, Billboard predicts it will be Daddy Yankee, who is featured on Vives’ and Wisin’s monster collaboration “Nota de Amor.”

Vives’ “Cuando Nos Volvamos a Encontrar” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart

Carlos Vives is back at the top of the charts…

The 53-year-old Grammy-winning Colombian singer earned his ninth No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart this week after his latest single “Cuando Nos Volvamos a Encontrar” (featuring Marc Anthony) jumped 4-1 on the chart.

Carlos Vives

It’s the second single from Vives’ fourteenth studio album Más + Corazón Profundo.

After logging his first four No. 1 singles in 2000-04, Vives has added five (out of his last six entries) since 2012, which coincided with his first season as a coach on The Voice Colombia.

Anthony likewise notches his ninth No. 1 on the chart.

The official music video for “Cuando Nos Volvamos a Encontrar” has registered more than 8.1 million views on Vevo.