Up and coming Latin artist Jade Esteban Estrada has had his share of

praise and criticism. 

     "America sometimes says I'm too Latin, and the Latin community says I go overboard with the English," said the 26-year-old singer who is proud to be lumped with singers such as Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin. 

     "I've just learned to realize that despite my best efforts, I can't please everyone," Estrada said.

     His latest album, however, may come close.

     "Angel," a bilingual effort featuring slow jams and high-energy dance tracks, offers something for American and Latin communities. Both are meeting the man behind the music on Estrada's 56-city promotional tour, "Angelika," which runs through mid-December. 

     While performing in Richmond at the "One America: Celebrate Diversity" event in late October, Estrada said he developed a special bond with the city. 

     "Richmond is a great place. It's the kind of place where you can get established and feel at home," said Estrada, who lives in New York.

     Raised in San Antonio, Texas, Estrada remains close to his family there. He said he finds inspiration for his songs from love and life. While he wrote only of the songs off the "Angel" CD, his next album includes some original work, But singing Latin pop wasn't always the game plan for Estrada, who was influenced by Country artists like Mary Chapin Carpenter. 

     "I always felt I was meant to sing country music," said Estrada.

     The emotion, lyrics and tone of country music fit his personality more so than Latin music did, he said. That was then. Now, he said, he's in the right place, singing the right music.