Rest in peace Angela Alvarez, who made all Cubans proud and captured hearts across the world when she won a Grammy in 2022 for Best New Artist at the age of 95. The amazing artist passed away on December 6 in Baton Rouge, surrounded by her family members.
Angela Alvarez, the Cuban who won a Latin Grammy at 95 years of age, passes away
“What we achieved together was extraordinary. It is an example of courage, love, and the importance of keeping dreams alive,” said her grandson.
Ángela Álvarez, the Cuban singer-songwriter who made history two years ago by winning a Latin Grammy at the age of 95, passed away early on Friday, December 6, as reported by her grandson, composer and producer Carlos José Alvarez, to Billboard magazine.
Álvarez died at 97 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, surrounded by her family and loved ones, according to her grandson, who produced the singer-songwriter’s debut album. The cause of death was not revealed.
“I feel very fortunate to have shared our grandmother with the world. She was a gift to me,” said Carlos José Alvarez.
“What we achieved together was extraordinary. It is an example of courage, love, and the importance of keeping dreams alive. She taught us how art can heal in times of adversity,” he added.
The Cuban artist was awarded “Best New Artist” at the age of 95.
Upon receiving the award from the Latin Recording Academy in the United States in 2022, an emotional Álvarez thanked her family, especially her grandson, musician and composer Carlos José Álvarez, who helped her record her first album in 2021.
Living in the United States, she always felt a devotion to music, as she acknowledged in an interview with BBC Mundo, but it wasn’t until her 90s that she achieved public recognition thanks to the songs she composed throughout her life.
Due to her success, the Cuban artist was able to give her first concert at the Avalon Theatre in Los Angeles, presented by Cuban actor Andy García.
Ángela also had a brief appearance in the film Father of the Bride, starring Andy García and Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan. In the film, the elderly Cuban woman appears singing the bolero “Quiéreme mucho.”
Her first and so far only album includes 15 compositions, recorded by top-tier musicians who were either Grammy winners or nominees.
In her obituary, the Latin Grammy Academy wrote: “Ángela became the oldest winner to achieve recognition in that category, at 95 years old. The artist, born in Cuba, was an example of love for Latin music. Rest in peace.”
I remember her in the movie. RIP