His parents, Carlos Ponce, Sr. and Esther Freyre, emigrated from Cuba after the Revolution and he was born in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico. After his birth, the family moved to Humacao where Ponce was raised. As a child, he would actively participate in his school's plays and at home he would often put on a show for the family where he would sing the latest tunes. "Carlitos", as he is known in Puerto Rico, started to appear in television commercials at the age of six. He attended high school in Humacao and was a member of the school's drama club.
In 1986, the Ponce family moved to Miami, Florida and Ponce continued to participate in his school's productions. He was named the best student actor of the southern region of the United States.
In 1990, Ponce participated in the South eastern Theater Conference and competed for the chance to win a scholarship. He won and enrolled in the New World of the Arts Conservatory school of the University of Miami. However, the Spanish language television station Univision offered Ponce the opportunity to host a show called "Hablando" (Talking). This was his first serious television debut and after his debut he gave up his university studies.
Acting career
After the show came to its end, Ponce went to Mexico to visit a friend. While there he visited the Televisa television station. The talent director of the station met Ponce and was very impressed with him. He offered Ponce a role in the soap opera "Guadalupe". Later he also participated in another soap opera for Televisa entitled "Sentimientos Ajenos", in which he played the main character. Ponce also sang the theme song for the production. He received the "Actor Revelation of 1997 Award" by Eres magazine and named "Best Actor" by TV y Novelas magazine (both are Mexican entertainment publications).
In between productions, Ponce returned to Miami and Univision hired him as the host of a new show to be called "Control". He hosted the show for three years and won an "ACE Award" for his effort. He hosted the Miss Universe 2006 pageant in Los Angeles, along Shandi Finnessey, Nancy O'Dell and Carson Kressley.
In 2003, Ponce joined Entertainment Tonight as a correspondent. He also hosted An Entertainment Tonight Event — Celebrity Weddings Unveiled, a CBS primetime special. Ponce, now no longer with ET, currently stars in the Telemundo serial Dame Chocolate (Give Me Chocolate). Ponce also starred in Perro Amor in 2010 on the same network. In 2012, Ponce began hosting the hit Puerto Rican singing competition for kids on Wapa Television called Idol Kids Puerto Rico. In 2013, Ponce appeared on Telemundo's Santa Diabla as Humberto Cano.
Musical career
In 1998, Emilio Estefan signed Ponce to a record contract. His first album was entitled "Carlos Ponce" and included three of his own compositions. The album reached the #1 spot in the Latin Billboards for nine weeks in the Hispanic community of the United States. It also reached the #1 spot in Central America and South America. He was Awarded a Double Platinum Award for the sales which his album generated.
Canela
Carlos Ponce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chiquito de la loma con paciencia espera
A que le toque su turno, con unos nervios profundos
Pues es la primera vez que la vida prueba
Con ella don Jacinto se toma su tiempo
Se gasta cada quinto sin remordimiento
Y doña Toña lo espera vestida en traje de Eva
Canela, Canela tu niña tiene hambre
Canela, Canela, ay dale de comer
Y dile que pintas sonrisas en las caras de los hombres tristes
Y asi talvez tu niña ya no llorará
Dónde estás mamá
Riquito, ricachón del barrio la alucina
Es hijo de la dueña de la tienda de la esquina
Con su chaqueta de cuero derrochando su dinero
Pero por lo menos deja buena propina
Danilo que la quiere desde que era muy pequeño
Se lleva lo que tiene para la casa de empeño
Y ahora compra sus carisias
Mientras afuera la fila crece de prisa
Canela, Canela tu niña tiene hambre
Canela, Canela ay dale de comer
Y dile que pintas sonrisas en las caras de los hombres tristes
Y asi talvez tu niña ya no llorará
Y asi talvez tu niña ya no llorará
Canela, Canela lo que se hereda no se hurta
No enseñas a tu niña lo que te enseño tu madre
Tu dile que pintas sonrisas en las caras de los hombres tristes
Y asi talvez tu niña ya no llorará
Canela, Canela tu niña tiene hambre
Canela, Canela, ay dale de comer
Y si en el cielo te perdonan
Y algún dia te regalan alas
Ay Canela sobre ella volarás
Y le dirás, aquí está mamá
Carlos Ponce's song Canela talks about the power of a woman's influence, specifically through her ability to provide comfort and nourishment. The song depicts different characters from a small town, all of whom flock to Canela for her cooking but also for her kindness and warmth. The lyrics explain how these characters are willing to wait in long lines just to get a taste of Canela's cooking. The first stanza focuses on a young man who is nervous to try Canela's food for the first time, while the second stanza introduces a married couple who often drinks away their problems at Canela's restaurant. The third stanza depicts some of the more wealthy members of the community, including the son of a shop owner and a man who pawns his belongings just to afford Canela's food.
Throughout the song, Canela is portrayed as a mother figure who brings people together and provides comfort and nourishment. Her food is not only delicious but has the power to bring people joy and happiness, as evidenced by the smiles she paints on the faces of the "sad men". The song concludes with the repeated plea to "feed the hungry child" and with the hope that Canela's influence will continue even after her passing, as she is promised to fly over her child with angel's wings.
Overall, Carlos Ponce's Canela is a powerful tribute to the power of maternal love and the nourishment of both the body and soul.
Line by Line Meaning
Por una probadita de los labios de canela
Yearning for just a taste of the cinnamon lips, he waits patiently for his turn with deep nerves.
Chiquito de la loma con paciencia espera
Small boy from the hills wait patiently
A que le toque su turno, con unos nervios profundos
Waiting nervously for his turn
Pues es la primera vez que la vida prueba
It is his first time tasting life
Con ella don Jacinto se toma su tiempo
Mr. Jacinto doesn't rush with her.
Se gasta cada quinto sin remordimiento
He spends every penny without remorse
Y doña Toña lo espera vestida en traje de Eva
And Toña waits for him, dressed in an Eva suit
Ahogando su mal sabor en una botella
She drowns her bad taste in her drink
Canela, Canela tu niña tiene hambre
Cinnamon, cinnamon, your child is hungry
Canela, Canela, ay dale de comer
Cinnamon, cinnamon, oh please feed her
Y dile que pintas sonrisas en las caras de los hombres tristes
And tell her that you paint smiles on the faces of sad men
Y asi talvez tu niña ya no llorará
Perhaps then your child won't cry
Dónde estás mamá
Where are you, mom?
Riquito, ricachón del barrio la alucina
Rich kid from the neighborhood is fascinated by her.
Es hijo de la dueña de la tienda de la esquina
He is the son of the owner of the corner store
Con su chaqueta de cuero derrochando su dinero
He wastes his money, parading around in his leather jacket
Pero por lo menos deja buena propina
But, at least he leaves a good tip.
Danilo que la quiere desde que era muy pequeño
Danilo has loved her since he was very young.
Se lleva lo que tiene para la casa de empeño
He takes what he has to the pawn shop
Y ahora compra sus carisias
Now he buys her affections
Mientras afuera la fila crece de prisa
While the line outside grows quickly
Canela, Canela lo que se hereda no se hurta
Cinnamon, cinnamon, what's inherited can't be taken away
No enseñas a tu niña lo que te enseño tu madre
Don't teach your daughter what your mother taught you
Tu dile que pintas sonrisas en las caras de los hombres tristes
Tell her that you paint smiles on the faces of sad men
Y asi talvez tu niña ya no llorará
Perhaps then your child won't cry
Canela, Canela tu niña tiene hambre
Cinnamon, cinnamon, your child is hungry
Canela, Canela, ay dale de comer
Cinnamon, cinnamon, oh please feed her
Y si en el cielo te perdonan
And if you're forgiven in heaven
Y algún dia te regalan alas
And someday they gift you wings
Ay Canela sobre ella volarás
Oh cinnamon, you'll fly over her
Y le dirás, aquí está mamá
And you'll tell her, 'Here's your mom'
Contributed by Charlie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.