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Ana Bárbara (born January 10, 1971 in Rio Verde, San Luis Potosí), is a Mexican Latin Grammy Award winner, songwriter, producer, and Grammy-nominated recording artist that has proved herself to be one of the few regional Mexican acts to garner an international following that extends beyond México and the United States.
Ana Bárbara took interest in music at a young age. She was particularly influenced by her older sister, Viviana Ugalde, who was a popular singer locally. As an impressionable child with a strong will and a desire for attention, Ana Bárbara was awe-inspired by her sister's performances and decided she wanted to be a singer herself. Today, Ugalde reprents Ana Bárbara as her artistic manager.
Ana Bárbara would become renowned for her beauty before she reached stardom as a singer; in 1988, she became "Miss San Luis Potosí",
In 1993, Ana Bárbara was proclaimed the "Ambassador of Ranchera Music", and she also earned the Rostro Bonito de El Heraldo ("El Heraldo's Beautiful Face") award. As her celebrity grew, so did her audacity. According to one famous story, she was invited to perform at the Vatican for Pope John Paul II after she became "the ranchera ambassador" of México. But when Mass neared its close and she still hadn't been given her chance to sing, she decided to interrupt the proceedings so that she could command the attention of the Pope, for whom she began to sing a tradicional Mexican mariachi song. Amused, no doubt, the Pope blessed her and wished her luck with her career.
In 1994, she signed with Televisa's musical company, Fonovisa
. Under the Fonovisa label, she launched her first CD, the self-titled "Ana Bárbara" produced and largely written by Aníbal Pastor. Her songs, "Sacúdeme" and "Nada" became overnight hits in México, which confirmed her status as a Grupero star on the rise.
Ana Bárbara reached new levels of international fame after the release of her sophmore album titled La Trampa, released in July 1995 by Fonovisa, which was also produced by Anibal Pastor. This album elevated her star even higher and has become one of the most successful albums in her career to date. It spawned three consecutive songs that topped "Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks" and established her as "La Reina Grupera" ("Queen of Grupero Music").
By the summer of 1996, she had become an international household singer. The release of her third album Ay, Amor continued the hit parade and solidified her title as one of Mexico's most successful recording artists.
In 1998, Ana Bárbara released her fourth album produced in its entirely by singer, songwriter, and producer Marco Antonio Solis. The album, titled Los Besos No Se Dan En La Camisa, was largely a ballads album with only one Grupero-style song. This album included a duet and background vocals by Solis, as well as a cover of "Como Me Haces Falta," originally sung by Los Bukis in 1982. This track became another chart-topper in Latin America, México, and the United States, and it also her garnered major industry award trophies to her growing collection.
In 1999, Ana Bárbara released her fifth studio album Tu Decisión. It was a return to form, with Anibal Pastor back at the helm as producer and contributing songwriter. One of his two songwriting credits, "Engañada," became the album's most notable hit. Tu Decisión was also notable in songwriting terms because it marked Ana Bárbara's debut as a songwriter, with four of the album's dozen songs credited to her.[ In the same year she also debuted as an actress, starring in the made-for-TV film "Todo Contigo;" executive produced by mogul Miguel Kahan, the film was intended for stateside consumption, via network giant Univision. The theme song written by Beto Daneli for the movie "Todo Contigo" was included in the album Tu Decisión.]
In 2000, she took a short break in order to dedicate time to birth of her first child, Emiliano. She was briefly out of the limelight as she quickly returned to the music scene only months later. Te Regalo La Lluvia debuted in 2001 and offered a change to her custom Grupero sound as it fulfilled Bárbara's personal dream of recording for the first time in Mariachi music. This album was produced by songwriter Fato, who penned the title track that became a favorite among fans. Critics who had written off Ana Bárbara as simply a grupero novelty built chiefly upon sex appeal consequently took her and her music a bit more seriously afterward. Te Regalo La Lluvia became a particularly big hit and marked her return to the top of the charts.
Ana Bárbara's private life became paparazzi fodder, as one of Mexico's most spoken-about singers. Her romance with popular imitator Julio Sabala in particular gave magazines much to talk about between the early 2000s. There were rumors that the couple was actually considering marriage. Since Sabala is a Dominican who resides in Spain, she also became very well known in Europe. After their long romance, however, the couple broke up on what Sabala described as "amicable terms."
In 2003, Ana Bárbara took her artistic creativity to the next level by joining in the production and producing process of her music. Her next two albums were yet another professional accomplishment. Te Atraparé...Bandido (2003) and Loca de Amar (2005) were labeled among her best work to date, sharing the production with friend Carlos Cabral, Jr., the records solidified her musical career and together they boasted heavily aired singles such as "Bandido," "Deja," "Loca," and "Lo Busqué."
In 2005, she participated in Selena ¡VIVE!, a tribute concert held in honor of the 10th Anniversary of the death of Latino performer Selena, the "Queen of Tejano music", which was held on April 7, 2005 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The special was produced by the Spanish-language network Univision, and was the most watched Spanish-language special in US history. She produced and co-wrote a new version of "Carcacha," which sampled Selena's original version along with her own personal style and unique sound.
Also in 2005, she produced the debut album for Mexican duo Los Elegidos (Ana Bárbara's brothers). The album was titled "Tal y Como Somos" ("Just As We Are") and it sampled Regional Mexican Banda music. Ana Bárbara wrote and composed several tracks on the album, including their debut song titled "Fruta Prohibida," which topped "Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks" chart and also helped Los Elegidos reach popularity in México and the United States. In 2006, she produced their sophmore album titled "Niña Mimada."
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Ana Bárbara began a romance with millionaire businessman and boxer Jorge Kahwagi in early 2005, but they broke up by June of that year. She then began a relationship with Mariana Levy's widower, José María Fernández, an architect commonly known as "Pirru." The fact that she and "Pirru" began dating only about three months after Levy's passing proved controversial. Bárbara has since been largely criticized by Hispanic gossip shows both in the United States and in México for dating him so shortly after his wife's death. "Pirru" proposed in October 2005, they wed a few months later.
In 2006, Ana Bárbara's musical career was placed on hold in order to dedicate valuable time to her new family and husband. Fonovisa released of her ninth studio album titled No Es Brujería, but the promotion of the new album was quickly stalled as she shortly announced she was expecting her second child. Later that year she relocated to the resort city of Cancún, México where she currently resides with her two son's, Emiliano (born in 2000) and José María (born in 2006) and her husband "El Pirru" and his two children Paula (born in 2002) and José Emilio (born in 2004).
Ana Bárbara has become a full-time dedicated mother of four small children, focusing on nourishing her family. During her time-off from the music business, she opted on her entrepreneur side by joining the food-industry business. She opened her first exclusive restaurant titled "Chocalate City," located in Cancún, Quintana Roo México. There have been talks about opening a second restaurant in Miami Beach, Florida.
Ana Bárbara has been awarded four "Premio Lo Nuestro" a la Musica Latina awards in the Regional Mexican Best Female Artist category, with a total of 10 nominations during her music career. She won in the following years: 1996, 1997, 1998, and in 2006.
She has received a total of seven "Premio Furia Musical" awards, as well three "Premio El Heraldo" trophies for Best New Artist in 1994 and Best Female Singer in 1997 and 2000.
She won a Casandra Award (which is the Dominican version of the Grammy's) in 2002 for "Most Outstanding Artist" (located in another country) for great international success.
In 2005, Ana Bárbara was awarded her first Latin Grammy Award for the critically acclaimed "Loca de Amar," which won "Best Grupero Album." The 6th Annual Latin Grammy Award Ceremony held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles marked Ana Bárbara's Grammy performance debut; a special acoustic medly of "Lo Busqué" and "Loca" proved to be one of the most vibrant performances of the night.[Univision Press Release]
She has been nominated for a total of four Latin Grammy Awards for her work in, Tu Decisión, Te Regalo La Lluvia, Te Atraparé... Bandido, and Loca de Amar (won) as well as a nomination in the tradicional Grammy Awards for No Es Brujería. Her record label Fonovisa says "these recognitions are a milestone accomplishment in Ana Barbara’s career that spans more than a decade of uninterrupted success in the United States, México and Latin America."
In early 2008, Ana Bárbara expanded her entrepreneur side once again by co-sponsoring and partnering with Los Elegidos; together they openened a popular nightclub titled "Bandido." It was named after one of her biggest hits and is currently located in Cancún, Quintana Roo México.
In July 2008, she participated in a tribute concert for legendary Mexican icon José José, where she performed a classic José José hit titled "Lo Pasado, Pasado;" she was quickly acclaimed for one of the night's highlight performances and for being on the "best dressed" list.
In April 2009, she topped People en Español Los 50 Más Bellos list. She was featured on the cover of this prestigious magazine alongside Maite Perroni, Eva Longoria, and Ana de la Reguera, among others.
After nearly four years of musical absence, Bárbara remains a popular favorite in the music entertainment industry. AllMusic.com says: "Ana Bárbara has not only dominated the Grupero movement, but she is one of the driving forces behind the Grupero-style realization."[ She is expected to release her 10th studio album in the Fall of 2009 under her new music label Universal Music Latin Entertainment.]
Albums- "Ana Bárbara" (1994, Self-titled Debut)
- "La Trampa" (1995)
- "Ay, Amor" (1996)
- "Los Besos No Se Dan En La Camisa" (1997)
- "Tu Decisión" (1999)
- "Te Regalo La Lluvia" (2001)
- "Te Atraparé... Bandido" (2003)
- "Loca de Amar" (2005)
- "No Es Brujería" (2006)
- TBA (2009)
Singles- From the album Ana Bárbara:
- "Nada"
- "Sacúdeme"
- "Todo Lo Aprendí De Ti"
- From the album La Trampa:
- "La Trampa"
- "No Se Que Voy Hacer"
- "Me Asusta, Pero Me Gusta"
- From the album Navidad Con Amigos:
- "Dame Un Beso En Nochebuena"
- From the album Ay, Amor:
- "Ya No Te Creo Nada"
- "No Lloraré"
- "Y Siempre"
- From the album Los Besos No Se Dan En La Camisa:
- "Los Besos No Se Dan En La Camisa"
- "Como Me Haces Falta"
- From the album Tu Decisión:
- "Engañada"
- "Quize Olvidar"
- "Todo Contigo"
- From the album Te Regalo La Lluvia:
- "Eso No Es De Hombres"
- "Te Regalo La Lluvia"
- From the album Te Atraparé... Bandido:
- From the album Loca de Amar:
- From the album No Es Brujería:
- "No Es Brujería"
- "Solo Mio"
- "Vete"
Collaborations- 1994: Anibal Pastor: "Ana Bárbara" (Album)
- 1994: Joan Sebastian: "Al Olvido"
- 1995: Anibal Pastor: "La Trampa" (Album)
- 1995: Felipe Barrientos: "La Trampa" (Track)
- 1996: Jorge Avendaño: "Ay, Amor" (Album)
- 1996: Manuel Eduardo Castro: "Ya No Te Creo Nada"
- 1997: Marco Antonio Solis: "Los Besos No Se Dan En La Camisa" (Album)
- 1999: Anibal Pastor: Tu Decisión (Album)
- 2001: Fato: "Te Regalo La Lluvia" (Album)
- 2001: Emilio Estefan Jr.: "El Ultimo Adios" (Various Artists)
- 2002: Guardianes del Amor: "Rumores"
- 2003: Carlos Cabral, Jr.: "Te Atraparé... Bandido" (Album)
- 2003: Alejandro Vezzani: "Bandido" (Track)
- 2003: Rudy Perez: "Deja"
- 2004: Yuri: "Cosas Del Amor"
- 2005: Arthur Hanlon & Kike Santander: "Estar a Tu Lado"
- 2005: Los Elegidos: "Tal y Como Somos" (Album)
- 2005: Carlos Cabral, Jr.: "Loca de Amar" (Album)
- 2005: Alejandro Vezzani: "Loca" (Track)
- 2005: Rudy Perez & Kike Santander: "Me Mata Tu Ausencia"
- 2005: Reyli: "No Fue Casualidad"
- 2006: Los Elegidos: "Niña Mimada" (Album)
- 2006: Anaís, Mariana Seoane, & Pablo Montero: "Arriba, Arriba"
- 2006: Carlos Cabral, Jr.: "No Es Brujería" (Album)
- 2006: Pablo Montero: "Con Mis Propias Manos"
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Genre : Latin
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