Latin Grammy winner for Best New Artist Ángela Álvarez, 95, dedicated the award to “God and My Beloved Home Cuba” in an emotional speech. His songs had remained hidden until a grandson discovered them and brought them to light.
Ángela Álvarez was born in Cuba, the granddaughter of a Spaniard from Santander who went to the island for a while but stayed for love. She loved music since childhood, but her father did not allow her to play in public.
Married and father of three children, she was forced to leave her beloved homeland after the victory of the communist revolution led by Fidel Castro and the establishment of the collectivist and anti-Christian dictatorship.
However, life’s difficulties have not prevented her from being a woman of deep faith. Not only did he dedicate the award to “God” and his homeland, but he also took the opportunity to send a message of encouragement “to those who have not achieved their dream”.
“Though life is difficult, there is always a way out and with faith and love it can be achieved. I promise it’s never too late,” the new star said at the awards ceremony.
Congratulations! Angela Alvarez and @silvanaestradab Best New Artist 🎶👏👏👏 #Latin Grammy pic.twitter.com/SdbTRnFfW9
— The Latin Recording Academy / Latin GRAMMYs (@LatinGRAMMYs) November 18, 2022
In testimonies recently collected by Spanish newspaper El Mundo, Álvarez has revealed his deep trust in Providence.
“My secret is trust. I give all my problems and my fears to God. I put everything in your hands and the decision is yours. I tell him, “You will do to me what is comfortable for me, because you know what is comfortable for me and what is not,” he said.
She settled in the United States and never stopped playing guitar and composing. Everything in privacy. Until his grandson Carlos José Álvarez found a notebook with 50 songs and suggested recording an album in 2016.
The project didn’t materialize until 2021, when it was recorded in Los Angeles and went viral. So much so that actor, producer and director Andy García decided to make a documentary about his life.
In 2022, he made a cameo appearance in the film Father of the Bride, starring Gloria Estefan and Andy García. In it he sings the bolero “Quiéreme mucho”.
His final words of thanks at the Latin Grammy Awards ceremony didn’t forget his creator either: “I love you all and may God bless you,” he said with a big smile, which the audience thanked with an ovation.