95-year-old Cuban Ángela Álvarez nominated for Latin Grammy as best new artist

October 7, 2022

Cuban Ángela Álvarez, 95 years old, was nominated for the Latin Grammy Award in the "best new artist" category.

Although she always felt devotion to music, as she acknowledges in an interview granted to BBC Mundo, it was not until now that she managed to make the leap to public recognition, thanks to the works she has composed throughout her life.

One of her grandsons, musician and composer Carlos José Álvarez, played a key role in dusting off Ángela's works and presenting them to the public.

Thanks to the success achieved, the Cuban artist gave her first concert at the Ávalon theater in Los Angeles, which was presented by the actor, also Cuban, Andy García.

Ángela also had a brief appearance in the film "Father of the Bride", starring Andy García himself 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 first-rate musicians, recipients of the Grammy or nominated for it.

In the past, artists and groups such as David Bisbal, Juanes, Karol G, Calle 13 and Jesse & Joy have been winners in the same category in which Ángel is nominated, "best new artist". In that same section Mon Laferte, Pablo Alborán and Maluma have been nominated.

Both Cuban official and independent media have overlooked Ángela's Latin Grammy nomination. The lists that highlight the Island's nominees only refer to Chucho Valdés, Alexander Abreu, Renesito Avich, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Aymée Nuviola, Lenier Mesa, Leoni Torres and the duo Ibeyi, among others.

So far, another Cuban holds the record as the oldest winner of a Latin Grammy. This is Omara Portuondo, who in 2009, at the age of 79, won in the category Best Contemporary Tropical Album with her recording "Gracias".

Another longtime artist whose production was nominated for the Latin Grammys was Colombian singer and composer Magín Díaz in 2017, when he was 94 years old, in the Best Package Design category for his album "El orisha de la rosa", which, in fact, his team won.

The ceremony for the 23rd Latin Grammy Awards will take place in Las Vegas in November, and will feature dozens of major Latin artists with worldwide renown.