Angela Alvarez was a Cuban singer-songwriter who became the oldest artist to win the Latin Grammy award for Best New Artist in 2022 for her self-titled debut album, Angela Alvarez, released in 2021. The late singer shared the award with Silvana Estrada, her 70 years junior.
Angela Alvarez died on December 6, 2024, at her residence in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as told to Billboard Espanol by her grandson Carlos José Alvarez, who stated that he was lucky to have known her:
"I feel so lucky to have shared our grandmother with the world. She was a gift to me. What we accomplished together was extraordinary. She is an example of courage, love and the importance of keeping dreams alive. She taught us how art can heal in times of adversity. Being able to work with her changed my life."
Carlos, a composer and the producer of the late singer's debut album, continued:
"The gift I thought I was giving her, was actually a gift she gave to me and in turn the world. She always said, ‘I want to leave this world knowing my music would live on,’ and it will. Her life was full and her legacy shines on.”
A brief overview of Angela Alvarez's life
Angela Alvarez was born June 13, 1927, in Camagüey, Cuba. The singer had a passion for music from an early age and took guitar and piano lessons during her schooling years. However, due to disapproval from her father and her husband, she was unable to pursue music as a career early in her life.
In 1956, just four years after the Cuban democratic government was overthrown by the US-backed dictatorial regime of Fulgencio Batista, Angela Alvarez left Cuba and went to the US to work as a bank janitor while her husband worked at the local sugar industry in Baton Rouge as a mechanical engineer.
After the Cuban Revolution, the singer was separated from her children for two years before she was reunited with them by Operation Pedro Pan, created by Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh of the Catholic Welfare Bureau. The singer remained with her children and later her grandchildren in Baton Rouge till her death.
The singer eventually made her career when her composer grandson decided to record her songs to preserve their family legacy. The album was recorded and released in 2021.
Angela Alvarez talked about her love for music in an exclusive interview with Billboard Espanol, here quoted from Billboard's article on the matter that was published on November 1, 2022:
"I loved music very much. When I was a child, I had two aunts that played the piano and taught me how to sing. Whenever there was a family gathering, I was the artist; they made dresses for me and I always liked to perform."
Her grandson stated in that same interview how he got the idea for making the album:
"I didn’t know there were so many, I had no idea. When I got back to L.A., that’s when it clicked. I called her up and I said, ‘Nana, do you want to do this?’ First she said, ‘¡Yo no voy para Los Ángeles! ¿Pa’ qué?’ (‘I’m not going to Los Angeles! For what?’) And I say, ‘To record your album!’ And she’s like, ‘OK, I’m there!'”
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Alongside her debut and now sole album, Alvarez appeared in the 2022 remake film Father of the Bride. Angela Alvarez is survived by her 3 children, 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
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