Guadalupe Pineda

by Evan C. GutierrezGuadalupe Pineda came to be known as one of her native Mexico's grassroots musical icons. Performing music from all over the Spanish-speaking world for audiences large and small, Pineda built a reputation and fan base, concert by concert, over the course of a career that spanned decades. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Pineda early on relocated to Mexico City, where she studied sociology and political science before embarking on her career as a vocalist. Pineda began singing in the local coffee shops and small venues, building her repertoire and reputation while she supported herself selling real estate and teaching guitar lessons. Pineda collaborated with a number of local groups, one of them being Sanampay, with whom she recorded three records and got her first chance to tour internationally. In 1980 Pineda recorded an album with Carlos "Caíto" Diaz, launching her career as a solo performer. Throughout the early '80s Pineda performed anywhere she was invited, including venues like prisons, mental hospitals offices, and city squares. The less-than-glamorous performance career honed her skills and gained support punctuated by the 1984 release of the song "Yolanda." Her breakthrough hit, also known as "Te Amo," performed as a duet with Pablo Milanés, sold better than a million and a half copies, announcing Pineda as an international star. In the years to follow, Pineda would add many successful records to her discography, soon including more than 20 titles, several achieving gold and platinum status. She has appeared before audiences all over Latin America and Europe, performing folk and pop repertoire from all over Latin America.