courtesy of Rogers and Cowan

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When tensions reached a boiling point between the neighboring countries of Colombia and Venezuela earlier this year, Latin rock superstar Juanes sprang into action.

The native Colombian took time from his beyond-busy schedule and stateside arena tour to set up an elaborate concert, held on the Simón Bolívar Bridge linking the two countries.

The event, dubbed Concierto Paz Sin Fronteras, featured some of the biggest names in the Latin music world, including Juanes, Miguel Bosé, Juan Luis Guerra, Ricardo Montaner, Alejandro Sanz, Juan Fernando Velasco and Carlos Vives.

It was one of the largest concerts of its kind in either country's history and was arranged from start to finish in the span of just a little over eight days.

"The whole thing was a surprise for everybody," said Juanes (real name Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez) in a phone interview from his tour bus in Texas.

The concert brought in an estimated 100,000 people.

"We weren't expecting much. We were kind of nervous. But then it became this huge event, a strong symbol of peace."

Juanes, who will perform in Tucson for the first time in five years on Sunday, said his goal for the Sin Fronteras concert was to let the governments know that their people "are still brothers," that they come from the same origins, "have the same blood and speak the same language."

He knew that music was not going to change the way people acted, he said, but still considered it a "very powerful weapon of peace."

It's the same mantra that Juanes has worked under since disbanding his metal band Ekhymosis to pursue a solo career in 1998, using music to promote peace and political awareness.

Between events like Paz Sin Fronteras and the work he has done through his organization the Mi Sangre Foundation —geared toward helping those injured by land mines — the mega-musician has received attention from some powerful people, all the while earning 12 Latin Grammys and selling more than 10 million albums.

Time magazine named the Medellín-born artist one of the "top 100 most influential people in the world" in 2005. And Juanes was one of only a handful of artists chosen to perform at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies in Oslo, Norway, last December.

His causes have always had a place in his music, and his latest album follows along the same lines. Amid upbeat songs and popular hits like "Me Enamora" and "Gotas de Agua Dulce," his latest album, "La Vida . . . Es Un Ratico" includes songs such as "Minas Piedras," which sings of the horrors inflicted by land mines, a major problem in Colombia after years of conflict.

"Through music, you can bring people together," Juanes said. "You can send messages. You can do more than record albums and have concerts. Everything that goes through me goes through my music.

"I want to be known for my music," Juanes said. "I have waited a long time for this. At the same time, I do this other work because it makes me feel good to help my family, my brothers and my neighbors."