National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15th through October 15th, this recognizes the culture, achievements, contributions, and history of Hispanic Americans. The Spring Creek Sun is showcasing a few influential musicians and the hallmark that they have made in the music industry.
Jerry Garcia is one of the most famous rock and roll musicians of all time as lead singer and guitarist of The Grateful Dead. He was born in San Francisco, California on August 1, 1942. Garcia was also renowned for his musical and technical ability, particularly his ability to play a variety of instruments and sustain long improvisations with the Grateful Dead.
Ricky Martin is a Latino pop singer, who burst onto the music scene with his self-titled English-language debut album. It immediately shot up the charts. Martin is no stranger in the music business, he was a member of Menudo, the Puerto Rican boy band. He also had a short acting stint on ABC’s General Hospital.
Rita Moreno was born Rosita Dolores Alverio on December 11, 1931 in Humacao, Puerto Rico. She is an actress, dancer, and singer. Moreno first appeared in film at the age of fourteen, in A Medal for Benny (1945). She played in several movies (notably The King and I in 1956) until her role as Anita in West Side Story (1961) that brought her fame and an Oscar as best supporting actress.
Placido Domingo was born on January 21, 1941 in Madrid, Spain. Placido’s parents were Spanish opera singers in Madrid, which contributed to his remarkable tenor voice and musical abilities. At eight years old, Placido began appearing alongside his parents in performances. He originally played the piano and enrolled in school to become a conductor but decided to focus on singing.
Suzanne Casale Melone was born on March 1, 1979 in Brooklyn, New York and is better known as Lil Suzy. She is an Italian-Puerto Rican American freestyle/pop singer. Lil Suzy is known for her hits “Take Me in Your Arms”, “Promise Me” and “Can’t Get You Out of My Mind”. She is a singer and songwriter who was very influential in freestyle music in the early 1990s.
Judy Torres was born on June 13, 1968 in the Bronx. She is an American freestyle music artist and dance-pop singer. Torres scored club hits with songs such as “Please Stay Tonight,” “Come into My Arms,” “Love Story,” “I Love You, Will You Love Me,” and “No Reason to Cry,” a love-themed freestyle.
Wilma Cosmé was born on January 16, 1966, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is known by her stage name Safire. She is a Puerto Rican singer who grew up in East Harlem and began her singing career as a session vocalist.
Safire is one of the few freestyle singers to cross over into the pop world. She was the first Latina to grace the cover of Spin Magazine. She has won numerous awards including: six New York Music Awards, three Desi Awards, ASCAP award for writing “Thinking of You.” the LGBT lifetime achievement Award.
Nayobe Catalina Gomez, is known professionally as Nayobe and was born on December 18, 1967 in Brooklyn, New York. She is an American singer of Afro-Cuban heritage and freestyle dance-pop musician. Her most successful singles are: “Good Things Come to Those Who Wait”, “Second Chance for Love” and “It’s Too Late.” In 1985, Nayobe became the first Latin American female to record a freestyle song called “Please Don’t Go”.
Christina María Aguilera was born on December 18, 1980 in Staten Island, New York, but was raised in Pennsylvania. Her father was born in Ecuador, and her mother is German, Irish, Welsh, and Dutch. She is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Often she is referred to as the “Voice of a Generation”, and is credited for reviving teen pop in the late 1990s. Aguilera has used her vocal ability to address such topics as sexuality, feminism, and domestic violence.
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on February 2, 1977 and raised in Barranquilla. She is a Colombian singer and songwriter. She has been referred to as the “Queen of Latin Music” and is noted for her versatility in music. She made her recording debut at the age of 13. Shakira entered the English-language market with her fifth album, which sold over 13 million copies worldwide with number-one singles “Whenever, Wherever” and “Underneath Your Clothes.”
Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva was born on September 23, 1943 in Madrid, Spain. He is a Spanish singer, songwriter and former professional footballer. Iglesias is recognized as the most commercially successful continental European singer in the world and one of the top record sellers in music history, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide in 14 languages. In April 2013, Iglesias was inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame.
