Angela Alvarez, winner of the 2022 Latin Grammy best new artist award, died on Friday per her grandson, composer and producer Carlos José Alvarez, who shared the news with an obituary published by Billboard Español. She was 97.
Born in June of 1927, in Camagüey, Cuba, Angela Alvarez learned to sing as a child but did not pursue the entertainment industry as a career, instead opting to settle down and start her family. After many years, José Alvarez went on to produce and release his grandmother’s unpublished music, resulting in her 2021 self-titled debut album and an accompanying documentary.
Alvarez also had a cameo in the Andy Garcia-starring remake of “Father of the Bride” as Tía Pili, and sang “Quiéreme Mucho” (“Love Me a Lot”) for the soundtrack.
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The success of the LP resulted in a historic Latin Grammy win for best new artist in 2022. Alvarez was 95 years-old when she won the award in a tie with Silvana Estrada, who was 25 years-old at the time.
“This is something that happened from day to night,” Alvarez told Variety shortly after she accepted her win that night. “I’ve always loved to sing since I was a little girl… when the family would have parties for Christmas or birthdays, I was the artist and they’d make me long dresses and announce my entrance to sing.”
She continued, “There are many open doors out there — the only person shutting those doors is yourself. If we don’t try, the doors will be closed. I had to wait 80 years to get to where I am here today.”
Angela Alvarez is survived by three sons, nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
