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Red
Hot Diva
A Bronx bomber
from New York City, India began her career when she joined the popular
group T.K.A., at age 15. She toured nationwide with T.K.A. until
producers "Little" Louie Vega and John "Jelly Bean" Benítez
approached the young singer to produce her as a solo artist. Years
later, India reached number one on the Billboard Dance charts with
the hit "Love and Happiness." Promptly, India became a celebrity
of New York City's house music scene and her musical career was
propelled into the path of stardom.
In 1992, her
Puerto Rican genes, combined with the presence of New York City's
vast tropical music dynasty, prompted the young singer to consider
performing in the Latin music market. Becoming aware of India's
determination, tropical music icon Eddie Palmieri decided to listen
to the female vocalist. Almost instantly, he saw the great potential
in India's talents and immediately started to work with the young
singer. Together they recorded the popular album Llegó La
India, Via Eddie Palmieri for the RMM label. The composition Mi
Primera Rumba burned Tropical music hit parade charts worldwide
and introduced the new female vocalist to the world of Latin music.
Once again, India was able to win-over the hearts of new audiences
and listeners everywhere.
After about
a year of working with Eddie Palmieri, India decided to leave the
band to pursue a solo career in tropical music.
By 1994, she
returned to the studio and recorded her solo debut, Dicen que Soy.
The new production achieved quadruple platinum sales in the United
States and Puerto Rico, plus four #1 Billboard tropical singles
and six top ten hits. The unpredictable success of the album led
to a two-year concert/tour of every major U.S. city, as well as
other tours throughout Latin America, Europe and Asia.
By the mid-nineties,
India was one of the leading stars of tropical music, the world
of salsa. Her unstoppable passion for music and performing placed
her in many major independent projects such as Jazzin', a jazz album
production with Tito Puente and the Count Basie Orchestra; La Combinación
Perfecta, where she joined in a duet with one of salsa's most popular
young male artists, Marc Anthony; Voces Unidas, a production inspired
by the Atlanta Olympics; the Nuyorican Soul album (with the hit
song Runaway); rap artist Puff Daddy sampled No me conviene on Señorita,
a track featured on the soundtrack of the movie No Way Out; and
a collaboration with salsa superstar Oscar D'Leon on the composition
Hazme el Amor.
In 1997, India
released her second solo album recording titled Sobre el fuego (Through
the fire). The long-awaited salsa production earned her a 1997 Grammy
nomination for "Best Latin Tropical Performance," plus several hit
songs and various nominations from "Lo Nuestro Awards" and other
annual events.
In the summer
of 1998, India conquered the people of her native Puerto Rico performing
at the island's most important concert hall, "El Centro de Bellas
Artes". Her two performances at Bellas Artes, clearly earned her
the title of reigning "Princess of Salsa" and the "#1 Female Salsa
Performer" in the world.
With the end
of the millennium upon us, India released her latest production,
Sola (Alone), produced by Isidro Infante. In a recent visit to Los
Angeles to promote her new CD Sola, I was able to speak with her
a few minutes about this new project and the state of her career
without having to read the usual press releases provided at the
puff parties.
Describing her
third solo album Sola, she emphasized the fact that this new production
would take the listeners deep into her soul, showing that there
are no boundaries or limits in the process of making music.
"Sola, the
song itself, is a very controversial composition with a double meaning,
she says. "I live in New York City and most of my family lives in
Puerto Rico. This fact of my life makes me feel alone most of the
time, but I can deal with it. But more in reference to the song,
its subject is women, women so lonely and with feelings so isolated
from their loved ones that they are driven to the point of committing
infidelity, an act very difficult to admit to by any woman, and
even by any man."
As a salsa artist
she is true to her fans, with the bulk of the selections in the
CD displaying the popular hot and powerful tropical urban tendencies
of salsa music. But India also reveals a passionate side of her
heart in this recording by paying a special tribute to the '70s
tropical music legend, La Lupe. She records the classics Que te
pedía and Sí vuelves tú.
Her deep understanding
of the song's romantic and passionate energies allow for the commendable
renditions of these classics in this recording. Both compositions
were arranged by Nelson Hernández, and vocally place India
at the top of her game. Her ability to enter into that tender and
sentimental side of Latin music, while providing powerfully hot
and nasty danceable salsa, is what India is all about.
"At this time
in my musical career, I feel that I have control of the clave. It
is an integral part of me and my music, allowing me more freedom
and improvisational space."
She is also
exhibiting the fatigue associated with a bonafide recording artist.
In the limelight for over a decade now, India has more than paid
her dues, professionally as well as socially, as a struggling woman
in this man's world. She doesn't complain about her own personal
treatment within the music industry or of the glass ceiling, but
she is vocal about ali the concerns of women in general, of the
civil and social rights of ali people, and of the right of everyone
to pursue peace and happiness throughout their lives.
"As a performer,
a Latin woman performer, my messages are intended to bring more
awareness to my sisters as well as to my brothers everywhere, from
my experiences in my own life and in my music."
India is a caring,
bold, passionate and rebellious performer in the Latin music world
of today. More power to her, my friends!
Nov 1999
Latin Beat Magazine
By Rudy Mangual
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