Biography of Albita

Cuban pop star Albita Rodriguez was one of the biggest names in Latin American music before she defected to America in April 1993 by scheduling a recording session in Mexico with her band. After getting situated in America, she became one of the most popular Latin artists in America. Born in Havana, Albita was influenced to begin singing and playing the conga-driven punto guajiro by her parents, both musicians in the rural Cuban style of music. She began performing professionally at the age of 15 and just four years later, she was the youngest entertainer on the Cuban variety TV show Palmas Y Canas.She began recording with 1988's Habra Musica Guajira, and became a successful artist throughout Latin America after signing a contract with a Colombian label -- quite a rare prestige for a Cuban artist. By the beginning of the '90s, she had her backing group together, and with the addition of musical director Julia Sierra (one of the greatest tres players in the world), Albita had a truly powerhouse band to complement her own forceful singing, often compared to Marlene Dietrich.After two additional albums, however, Albita Y Su Grupo hopped the Mexican-American border near El Paso and set out for Miami. There, she performed in an assortment of nightclubs before a handful of celebrities -- including Madonna, Gloria Estefan, Rosie O'Donnell and Gianni Versace -- and began trumpeting her immense talent. Estefan signed her to her own Crescent Moon Records for Albita's debut American release, No Se Parece A Nada. The album sold well in the worldwide Latin community, and Albita Y Su Grupo toured America, Europe and Latin America -- excepting, of course, Cuba. Her sophomore U.S. album, Dicen Que..., featured the help of Arturo Sandoval. Una Mujer Como Yo followed in late 1997. ~ John Bush