India: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Louie Vega
• Victor Manuelle
• Marc Anthony
• Olga Tañón

• Celia Cruz
• La Lupe

• Eddie Palmieri
• Alberto Barros

• Roberto Bellester
• Manuel Alejandro
• Isidro Infante
• Sergio George

Genres:

Latin Music, Salsa Music

Decades Active:

1990's|2000's

Artistic Quality

Medium

Cultural Impact

Medium

Popularity

Medium

Ratings Guide

A highly-emotive approach to Latin music has led to Puerto Rico-born and Bronx, New York-raised La India (born: Linda Viera Caballero) being dubbed, "The Princess of Salsa." Her 1994 album, Dicen Que Soy, spent months on the Latin charts. According to ~Jazz Times, "[La India] belts, she growls, she croons. She's a huge talent." Although her 1989 debut album Breaking Night featured hip hop-influence dance pop, La India's subsequent releases have emphasized her Latin roots. As she explained during an interview, "they wanted me to be white, and, that's not who I am. I don't want to be the next Madonna. I want to be me." La India has collaborated with many of Latin music's most influential musicians. In 1991, she toured with Eddie Palmieri. Palmieri produced and wrote or co-wrote all the songs on her 1992 album Llego La India. La India's 1996 album, Jazzin', balanced her love of Latin music and her affinity for pop balladry with memorable renditions of such classics as "Fever", "Love for Sale", "Going Out of My Head" and "What a Difference a Day Makes." Produced by Tito Puente, the album featured accompaniment by Puente's Latin Jazz Ensemble and the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of trombone player Grover Mitchell. La India's most commercially successful Latin album, Dicen Que Soy, was produced by Sergio George who had previously produced albums by Orquestra de la Luz, and featured a duet with Latin vocalist Marc Anthony on "Vivir Lo Nuestro." Mega Mix, released in 1996, featured La India's songs remixed by the Masters at Work duo, "Little" Louis Vega (her husband) and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez. La India's 1997 album Sobre El Furgo featured a duet with Latin songstress Celia Cruz on "La Voz De La Experiencia." Sola followed in 1999.

- Craig Harris, All Music Guide