La India

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
In this
Spanish name, the first or paternal surname
is Viera and the second or maternal family name is Caballero.
La India
Strictly Rhythm
  • Norte/Sony Latin
  • Top Stop (2010–present)
    • Websiteelmundodeindia.com

    Linda Bell Viera Caballero (born March 9, 1969), better known as La India, is a

    Latin Grammy Awards, winning the Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album for the Intensamente La India Con Canciones De Juan Gabriel album.[1]

    Early life

    Viera was born in

    feminist, having witnessed domestic violence from her father.[5]

    Career

    1985: Early career

    In 1985, when Caballero was 16 years old, she joined the

    Latin freestyle group TKA, a fact not widely known. Credited as "Linda," she appeared in the group photo on the back cover of TKA's second single, "Come Get My Love." She left shortly thereafter.[6]

    Caballero signed a record contract with Reprise/Warner Bros. Records, who planned to market her as the Latin version of Madonna (who recorded for sister label Sire Records).[7] India's debut album was titled Breaking Night. Three singles were released (“Dancing on the Fire,” “Right from the Start,” and “The Lover Who Rocks You All Night”), which all became big hits in the dance clubs. She also added her vocals to the Jellybean-produced single "Mirage". After recording the album, Caballero decided that she didn't want to take that route in her career.[4][6] She decided to switch to salsa because she believed that she needed to "cross over to [her] people."[3]

    1992–1994: First salsa album

    An important event took place when she accompanied her husband

    "Little" Louie Vega to a studio session. Salsa bandleader Eddie Palmieri happened to visit the studio, and was impressed with Caballero when he heard her singing. In 1992, Palmieri produced Caballero's first Spanish-language salsa album Llego La India via Eddie Palmieri (The India has Arrived via Eddie Palmieri),[3][8] which was acclaimed as one of the best salsa albums of the year. From then on, Caballero became known to all as La India.[6] India received a Lo Nuestro Award nomination in 1993 for Best Female Performer, Tropical/Salsa.[9]

    In 1994 La India, together with Louie Vega, recorded the house-music single "Love and Happiness" (Yemaya y Ochún), which paid tribute to Santería (a syncretic religion based in the Caribbean). This up-beat track was played heavily in dance clubs internationally. La India's involvement with Santería drew much criticism. Sergio George produced La India's 1994 album Dicen Que Soy, a 2× gold-certified Billboard hit that added to her legend in the Latin-American music realm.[3] The album also included her cover of Cuba’s Adalberto Alvarez Y Su Son’s hit song "Vivir Lo Nuestro[10]," featuring a duet with Marc Anthony. Later this same year, Combinación Perfecta was released.[4]

    1996–present: La India, the Princess of Salsa

    External audio
    audio icon You may listen to La India sing "Seduceme" here.
    audio icon You may listen to La India sing "Jazzin" with Tito Puente here

    In 1996, La India worked with

    Grammy Award. In 1998, she won an ACE Award.[6]

    On May 31, 1998, La India performed two sold-out concerts at the

    Miami, Florida. In September 1999, La India released her album Sola, which earned positive reviews for the single Sola and for covers of two hits by the late Cuban sensation La Lupe, Que Te Pedi and Si Vuelves Tu.[4]

    On February 5, 2000, a full-page ad in

    Grammy Award nomination for Best Salsa Album in 2004.[11]

    In 2005, La India participated in the musical presentation

    Selena ¡VIVE!, a tribute to the late Tejano sensation Selena Quintanilla-Perez. In 2006, La India released the album Soy Diferente, which contained two songs that became award-winning hits. The 2007 Annual Latin Billboard Awards honored La India with Best Tropical Album of the Year Female for "Soy Diferente" (I Am Different), and Latin Dance Club Play Track of the Year for "Solamente Una Noche" (Just for One Night). In 2007, La India collaborated with Latin sensation Gloria Estefan in a duet titled "90 Millas."[11]

    On June 11, 2006, La India was honored by Union City, New Jersey with a star on the Walk of Fame at Union City's Celia Cruz Park.[12]

    La India released her ninth studio album in 2010. La India mentioned to the

    Barbie
    . But more than that, I feel like a new woman because I have been blessed with many beautiful things. After many years, I have my family with me, and I am not separated from my mother, in which I suffered greatly. I have her in my life, and that brings inner peace that I haven't had in a long time."

    On February 23, 2010, La India's hit single "Estupida" was released on iTunes. The single was a cover of the 2009 Italian version "Stupida" by Alessandra Amoroso. La India's ninth studio album, Unica, was released June 1, 2010.

    In 2011, La India continued to release new music. She performed a duet with Issac Delgado titled "Que No Se Te Olvide." In 2011, La India released a new house track titled "Tacalacateo," on which she worked with Italian DJ Peppe Citarella. "Tacalacateo" peaked at #13 on Billboard's dance music chart.

    In 2012, La India performed as part of UNITY : The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson, along with other Latin artists such as Tito Nieves and Kevin Ceballo.[13]

    In 2014, La India once again signed with the record label Top Stop Music, also joining the Salsa Giants project with Sergio George. La India released her tenth studio salsa album "Intensamente Con Canciones de Juan Gabriel" on Top Stop Music in 2015. It includes duets and solo pieces by both artists. This album was number one on Billboard's tropical chart for a consecutive four weeks. One song in particular, "Ahora Que Te Vas" quickly rose to number one on Billboard's tropical chart. With this song, La India became the Latino woman with the most-ever number ones, a record previously held by Gloria Estefan.[14]

    In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked La India at number 113 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[15]

    Discography

    Studio albums

    Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications
    US
    [16]     		US Tropical[citation needed] US Latin[citation needed]
    Heatseekers[16]

    1990 Breaking Night — — — —
    1992 Llego La India, Via Eddie Palmieri
    • Label: Soho Sounds
    • Format: LP • CD • cassette
    		 — 5 — —
    1994 Dicen Que Soy
    • Label: RMM
    • Format: LP • CD • cassette
    		 — 1 4 —
    1997 Sobre el Fuego
    • Label: RMM
    • Format: CD • cassette
    		 — 1 4 33
    1999 Sola
    • Label: RMM
    • Format: CD • cassette
    		 — 4 7 20
    2002 Latin Songbird: Mi Alma y Corazón — 1 7 19
    2006 Soy Diferente — 1 11 9
    • RIAA: Gold (Latin)[17]
    2010 Unica
    • Label: Top Stop Music
    • Format: CD
    		 180 1 4 —
    2015 Intensamente Con Canciones de Juan Gabriel
    • Label: Top Stop Music
    • Format: CD
    		 — 1 3 —
    "—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released in the region.

    Compilation albums

    Year Title Peak chart positions
    US Tropical[citation needed]
    		 US Latin[citation needed]Billboard Top Latin Albums
    1996 Lo Mejor de India
    • Label: RMM
    • Format: CD
    		 — —
    1997 Mega Mix
    • Label: RMM / Soho Latino
    • Format: CD • cassette
    		 — —
    2001 The Best...
    • Label: RMM
    • Format: CD
    		 — —
    2005 Grandes Exitos +
    • Label: RMM
    • Format: CD
    		 7 11
    "—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released in the region.

    EPs

    Year Title
    1994 Love and Happiness (w/ River Ocean)
    • Label: Strictly Rhythm
    • Format: LP • CD

    Contributions on other recordings

    • 1988 - Mirage
    • By Jellybean & Little Louie Vega (Featured on the "B" side of the 12" Single of 'Just A Mirage')
    • With Tony Humphries
      • Keith Thompson – Rhythm of Life
    • With Masters at Work
      • 1992 – Ride On The Rhythm by Louie Vega & Marc Anthony (wrote/background vocals)
      • 1993 – When You Touch Me and I Can't Get No Sleep (from The Album)
      • 1994 – Voices In My Mind by Voices (India, Carol Sylvan, Michael Watford)
      • 1994 – Vibe P.M. (Masters at Work Remix) (featured with Mondo Grosso)
      • 1998 – To Be In Love (MAW Remix) (from MAW Records: The Collection Volume I)
      • 1996 – Runaway (from Nuyorican Soul)
      • 2002 – Backfired (from Our Time Is Coming)
    • RMM Combinacion Perfecta
    • Li'l Mo Ying Yang
      • 1995 Reach (samples "Love & Happiness")
    • Voces Unidas: The
      Atlanta Olympics
      • 1996 – Banderas
    • JohNick – Play The World EP
      • 1996 – Play The World (samples "Love & Happiness")
    • With Oscar D'León
      • 1997 – Hazme El Amor (from En Nueva York)
    • Puff Daddy & the Family – No Way Out
      • 1997 – Senorita (samples India's "No Me Conviene")
    • The Last Days of Disco Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
    • The 24-Hour Woman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
      • 1999 – India Con La Voe (Viva Puerto Rico)
    • Haus-A-Holics – Latin Spice EP
      • 2001 – Que Pasa by Haus-A-Holics (samples "Oye Como Va" with Tito Puente Jr.)
    • Empire Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
      • 2003 – Empire, Imperio
    • With Tito Nieves, Nicky Jam, and K-Mil
      • 2004 – Ya No Queda Nada
    • With Ivy Queen
      • 2004 – "Tócame" (from Real)
    • Tribute to Selena
      • 2005 – No Debes Jugar (from
        Selena ¡VIVE!
        )
    • With Marlon Fernández
      • 2006 – Usted Abusó (from Mi Sueño)
    • With
      Polaco, Nicky Jam
      , and Carlitos Way
      • 2006 – Tocarte Toda
    • With Gloria Estefan
    • With Michael Stuart
      • 2007 – Un Amor Tan Grande (from Sentimiento De Un Rumbero)
    • With Yolandita Monge
      • 2008 – Mala (Tropical Remix) (from "Mala")
    • With
      Tito "El Bambino"
      • 2009 – El Amor (Salsa Remix) (from "
        El Patron
        ")
    • ' 2010 – "Un Verano En Nueva York" (from Banco Popular De PR – Salsa, Un Homenaje A El Gran Combo Album)[18]
    • With Issac Delgado
      • 2011 – Maxi single "Que No Se Te Olvide"
    • With Peppe Citarella
      • 2011 – Maxi single "Tacalacateo"
    • With Tito Rojas
      • 2011 – "Maldito y Bendito Amor" (Salsa version)
      • 2011 – "Maldito y Bendito Amor" (Ballad version)
    • ' 2013 – "Tu no tienes alma" (from the "Y Si Fueran Ellas" albuml[19])
    • With Sergio George's Salsa Giants
      • 2014 – "Bajo La Tormenta" (from Sergio George Presents: Salsa Giants Plus)
    • With Tony Succar – Unity the Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson
      • 2015 – "Earth song"
    • With Tony Succar - Mimy Y Tony
      • 2023 - "Sin Fronteras"

    Awards and nominations

    Latin Grammy

    [1]
    Year Nominee / work Award Result
    2016 Intensamente con Canciones de Juan Gabriel Best Salsa Album Won

    Latin American Music Awards of 2016

    [20]
    Year Nominee / work Award Result
    2016 Intensamente con Canciones de Juan Gabriel Favorite Album—Tropical Nominated

    Lo Nuestro Awards

    Year Nominee / work Award Result
    2004 La India (herself) Tropical Female Artist Nominated
    2004 La India (herself) Best Salsa Performance Nominated
    2004 Seduceme Best Tropical Song Nominated
    2004 Mi Alma Y Corazon Best Tropical Album Nominated
    2005 La India (herself) Female Artist Of The Year Nominated
    2007 Soy Diferente Best Tropical Album Nominated
    2007 La India (herself) Female Artist Of The Year Nominated
    2007 La India & Cheka Group Or Duo Of The Year Nominated
    2011 La India (herself) Female Artist Of The Year Nominated
    2011 Estupida Best Tropical Song Nominated
    2016 La India (herself) Female Artist Of The Year Nominated

    Billboard Latin Music Awards

    Year Nominee / work Award Result
    2003 Latin Songbird: Mi Alma Y Corazon Tropical Album Of The Year Won
    2004 La India (Herself) Seduceme (Remix) Won
    2006 Grandes Exitos Tropical Album Of The Year Nominated
    2007 Soy Diferente Tropical Album Of The Year Won
    2007 Pura Salsa Tropical Album Of The Year Nominated

    See also

    References

    1. ^ a b "Latin Grammy Winners 2016: Complete List". Billboard.
    2. ^ "India | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
    3. ^ a b c d e f "La India and Marc Anthony | The Legends | Latin Music USA". La India and Marc Anthony | The Legends | Latin Music USA. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
    4. ^ a b c d "Cengage Learning – Education – Engaged with you". Galegroup.com. Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2015-10-11.
    5. ^ Valdes-Rodriguez, Alisa (April 9, 2000). "Commanding Respect". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 9, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
    6. ^ a b c d "pf – La India – Latin Music Artists – Corporate Event Booking Agent". Delafont.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-21. Retrieved 2015-10-11.
    7. ^ "La India – Supreme Princess of Salsa". Latina Lista: News from the Latinx perspective. 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
    8. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0
      . Retrieved 2019-03-16.
    9. ^ Lannert, John (March 30, 1993). "Secada Lead Latin Noms Following Grammy Win". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 10. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 10. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
    10. ^ "Adalberto Álvarez y su Son, Discografía, Salsero del mes".
    11. ^ a b "La India's About More Than Just Salsa". Puerto Rico Herald. Retrieved 2015-10-11.
    12. Hudson Reporter
      June 18, 2006
    13. ^ "Unity – The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson | 2015 PBS Arts Fall Festival | PBS Arts". Unity – The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson | 2015 PBS Arts Fall Festival | PBS Arts. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
    14. ^ Mendizabal, Amaya (15 July 2015). "India Passes Gloria Estefan for Most Tropical Song Charts No. 1s Among Women". Billboard.
    15. ^ "The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
    16. ^ a b "India". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
    17. ^ a b "American certifications – India". Recording Industry Association of America.
    18. ^ "Banco Popular De PR – Salsa, Un Homenaje A El Gran Combo Album Lyrics". Artists.letssingit.com. Retrieved 2015-10-11.
    19. ^ "Site is down for maintenance – [Client Name]" (PDF). Ysifueranellas.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-01-31. Retrieved 2015-10-11.
    20. ^ Valdez, Maria G. (August 31, 2016). "Latin American Music Awards 2016 On Telemundo: Yandel, Nicky Jam Among Top Nominees [FULL LIST]". Latin Times.

    External links

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