Ana Cristina sings a few measures of "The Star-Spangled Banner," her eyes glowing as she
tells of performing the song at George W. Bush's 2005 inaugural ball.
"I was the first Hispanic in history to sing the national anthem at an inaugural event," she
explains. "I sang the anthem of the country that welcomed my parents and allowed them to fulfill
their wishes when they couldn't somewhere else."
That "somewhere else" was the Cuba of 40 years ago. At age 20, Ana Cristina has yet to visit the
homeland, but she blends its rhythms into her decidedly saucy beats--all sung in the Spanish that
swirled around her Miami home.
Pop Goes the Music
"I'm a Latin pop ballad singer with up-tempo tracks and a little bit of salsa to bring the Cuban
heritage in there," she says, explaining that Hispanic music spans from Mexican Tejano to Dominican
merengue.
Ana Cristina speaks the perfect English of a young woman raised in America, yet heads turn in
recognition when she tours Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico. At the age of 6, she appeared
on Univision, the Spanish-language network, and grew up in front of an international audience--the
very listeners eagerly buying her first album called, simply, Ana Cristina. It's produced by Sony
Discos, which signed her just after her 15th birthday.
Now, in the midst of life--the CD, the touring, the TV, the inaugural anthem--Ana Cristina has
made a daring decision. She's recording an album in English, strutting her six-octave range before
a new audience.
"I'm working on this project with Emilio Estefan, Jr., who is a very close friend," she explains.
"He created so many crossover careers--such as his wife, Gloria's, and Shakira's." The new sound
will play up Ana Cristina's talent for ballads, adding R & B rhythms as she plays piano and guitar.
"I am so proud to be Cuban American. So I'll do the album in English--and then I will do another
Spanish album." Translation: more Ana Cristina vocals to go around. Not bad, no matter how you
say it.
Ana's Picks: Ana Cristina's top single, so far, is "A Un Paso De Mi Amor (Just a Prayer Away)" on
the Ana Cristina album. Her English language CD is due out in June (visit www.anacristina.com).
Two of Ana Cristina's favorite CDs are Stevie Wonder's The Definitive Collection and Celia Cruz's
Regalo Del Alma. For the latest in Latin sounds, check out Shakira or Melina León.
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