The Women of Latin American Music By Luisa Suarez Impact Women in Latin America have contributed many beautiful works of art, literature, and music that have helped shape the Latin American identity. However, many fields are male dominated considering machismo and marismo play huge roles in society. The Queen of Salsa: Celia Cruz • Cuban-American singer born in Havana, Cuba • First gained recognition in the 50’s singing with the orchestra, Sonoro Mantacera • Escaping communist rule in 1959 Celia along with the orchestra came to the U.S which angered Fidel Castro, he then banned her from entering Cuba. • Joining the Tito Puente Orchestra in the 60’s, Cruz gained recognition across the U.S Celia Cruz Cont. • Cruz continued to sing for over 40 years • 23 of Cruz’s of records went gold • She won 4 Grammy’s and was nominated 9 times • Held 2005’s Guinness world record for longest working career as a salsa artist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IibNqwndtCE Elis Regina • Born on March 17, 1945 in Porto Alegre, Brazil • Began to sing at the age of 12 on a TV show Cube de Guri • Rose to fame in 1965 after performing her song “Arrastao” in one Brazil first music festivals • Garnered the nick names “Little Pepper,” and “Hurricane,” for her dramatics on stage • Mixed Jazz with Rock elements into her music, a sound favored among the teenage crowd Regina Cont. • Became the highest paid musical artist in Brazil at the age of 21 • While touring in Europe she insulted the government saying it was run by “guerillas” • In the 70’s she released her album “Elis and Tom” • https://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=EIyyFyZtQzE Selena: Queen of Tejano • Born on April 16, 1971 in Lake Jackson Texas • Lead singer of her families band “Selena y Los Dinos” at the age of 10 • Father taught her how to speak Spanish • Would perform Tejano music on the street, in bars and even in weddings • htps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK GbjJarMeA Selena Cont. • Her album “Ven Conmigo” was the first Tejano record to go Gold • Amor Prohibido went Gold in 1994 • Won a Grammy for her 1993 album “Live” • Won “Best Female Vocalist,” and “Performer of the year” at the Tejano music awards • Sadly passed away on March 31, 1995 • https://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=dvfZ95ueOcQ Gloria Estefan • Born on September 1, 1957, in Havana, Cuba. • Fled from Cuba to Miami when she was very young. Her father was the bodyguard of Fulgencio Batista, the president overthrown by Castro. • Her lack of social life due to family health problems led her to find an outlet in music • She joined the “Miami Sound Machine,” a band which went on to garner multiple top 10 hits • Their first all English album “Primitive Love,” was released in 1985 Gloria Estefan Cont. • While on a trip to the Poconos Mountains the bands bus has an accident with a tractor trailer • Gloria had to go through intense physical therapy due to a broken vertebra • A performance at the American Music Awards in 1991 was her comeback • She had the second highest grossing tour in U.S https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =y5TgEWAuR8g Other Artists Women can be found throughout all the genres of Latin American music from Pop to Reggaeton. They break new ground such as Ivy Queen, who flourished the male dominated and misogynist Reggaeton by singing about a women’s perspective. Shakira has collaborated with Beyoncé and Rihanna and has lasted 8 weeks as number one on the billboard top 100. Women have and will continue to excel not only in Latin American Music but all around the world as well. .