Ana Bárbara

Ana Bárbara

Ana Bárbara (born January 10, 1971 in Rio Verde, San Luis Potosí), is a Mexican Latin Grammy Award winner, songwriter, producer, and Grammy-nominated recording artist. After four years of musical absence, Ana Bárbara released comeback album Rompiendo Cadenas in the fall of 2009 under newly launched idependent label AB Productions.

Ana Bárbara took interest in music at a young age. She was particularly influenced by her older sister, Viviana Ugalde, who was a popular singer locally. Ana Bárbara was inspired by her sister's performances and decided she wanted to be a singer herself. Today, Ugalde reprents Ana Bárbara as her artistic manager.

In 1988 Ana Bárbara entered the local Miss Universe-sponsored Miss México pageant representing her native state of San Luis Potosí; she lost at the national level.. Ana Bárbara moved forward as she began to sing professionally at a variety of events and festivals. For instance, in 1990 she seized an opportunity to tour Colombia as a singer.

In 1993, Ana Bárbara was proclaimed the "Ambassador of Ranchera Music," she also earned the Rostro Bonito de El Heraldo ("El Heraldo's Beautiful Face") award. As a result, she was invited to perform during Mass at The Vatican for Pope John Paul II, but when Mass neared its close and she still hadn't been given her chance to sing, she decided to interrupt the proceedings so that she could command the attention of the Pope, for whom she began to sing. The Pope blessed her and wished her luck with her career.

In 1994, she signed with Televisa's musical company, Fonovisa. Under the Fonovisa label, she launched her first CD, the self-titled "Ana Bárbara" produced and largely written by Aníbal Pastor. Her songs, "Sacúdeme" and "Nada" helped make Ana Bárbara a Mexican Grupero star on the rise.

Ana Bárbara released her sophomore album titled La Trampa, in July 1995, which was also produced by Anibal Pastor. This album helped Ana Barbara receive accolades from industry award shows as well as great reviews from the press. It spawned three consecutive hits, such as "Me Asusta Pero Me Gusta" and "La Trampa," that topped "Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks" and established her by many as "La Reina Grupera" ("Queen of Grupero Music").

By the summer of 1996, she had become international. The release of her third album Ay, Amor solidified her title as one of Mexico's most successful recording artists. Her appearance and dancing style attracted the public during promotional tours around the world with hit songs like "No Lloraré" and "Ya No Te Creo Nada."

In 1998, Ana Bárbara released her fourth album produced in its entirely by singer, songwriter, and producer Marco Antonio Solis. The album, titled Los Besos No Se Dan En La Camisa, was largely a ballads album with only one Grupero-style song. This album included a duet and background vocals by Solis, as well as a cover of "Como Me Haces Falta," originally sung by Los Bukis in 1982. The album was a minor setback as the lead single became the only commercially successful track to chart in Latin America, México, and the United States; however, it still garnered her various industry award trophies.

In 1999, Ana Bárbara released her fifth studio album Tu Decisión produced by Anibal Pastor. One of his two songwriting credits, "Engañada," became the album's most notable hit. Tu Decisión was also notable in songwriting terms because it marked Ana Bárbara's debut as a songwriter. In the same year she also debuted as an actress, starring in the made-for-TV film "Todo Contigo;" the film was intended for stateside consumption, via Hispanic network Univision. The theme song for the movie "Todo Contigo" was included in the album Tu Decisión.

In 2000, she took a short break in order to dedicate time to birth of her first child, Emiliano. She was briefly out of the limelight as she quickly returned to the music scene and in 2001 released her sixth album titled Te Regalo La Lluvia. This album was a challenge to her custom Grupero sound because it was recorded entirely in Mariachi style music and produced by songwriter Fato, who penned the title track. Critics who had written off Ana Bárbara as simply a grupero novelty built chiefly upon sex appeal consequently took her and her music a bit more seriously afterward. As Ana Bárbara continued to tour for Te Regalo La Lluvia, she also made preparations for her comeback Grupero-style album.

Consequently Ana Bárbara's private life became paparazzi fodder, as one of Mexico's most spoken-about singers. Her romance with popular imitator Julio Sabala in particular gave magazines much to talk about between the early 2000s. There were rumors that the couple was actually considering marriage. Since Sabala is a Dominican who resides in Spain, she also became very well known in Europe. After their long romance, however, the couple broke up on what Sabala described as "amicable terms."

After several years as a recording artist, Ana Bárbara jumped on board in the production and producing process of her music with her next two albums Te Atraparé...Bandido (2003) and Loca de Amar (2005). She worked on the production of both albums with friend and producer Carlos Cabral, Jr. Together the albums two spawned popular chart-topping singles such as "Bandido," "Deja," "Loca," and "Lo Busqué," which dominated "Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks", as well as earning her important accolades from various music industry award shows.

In 2005, she participated in Selena ¡VIVE!, a tribute concert held in honor of the 10th Anniversary of the death of Latino performer Selena, the "Queen of Tejano music", which was held on April 7, 2005 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The special tribute was produced by Spanish-language network Univision, and was the most watched Spanish-language television special in US history. Ana Bárbara produced and co-wrote a new version of "Carcacha," which sampled Selena's original version along with her own personal style and unique sound.

Also in 2005, she produced the debut album for Mexican duo Los Elegidos (Ana Bárbara's brothers). The album was titled "Tal y Como Somos" ("Just As We Are") and it sampled Regional Mexican Banda music. Ana Bárbara wrote and composed several tracks on the album, including their debut song titled "Fruta Prohibida," which topped "Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks" chart and also helped Los Elegidos reach popularity in México and the United States. In 2006, she produced their sophomore album titled "Niña Mimada."

Barbara in concert in 2005

Ana Bárbara began a romance with millionaire businessman and boxer Jorge Kahwagi in early 2005, but they broke up by June of that year. She then began a relationship with Mariana Levy's widower, José María Fernández, an architect commonly known as "Pirru." The fact that she and "Pirru" began dating only about three months after Levy's passing proved controversial. Ana Bárbara was largely criticized by Hispanic gossip shows both in the United States and in México for dating him so shortly after his wife's death. "Pirru" proposed in October 2005, they wed a few months later.

In 2006, Ana Bárbara released her final album with record label, Fonovisa, titled No Es Brujería. Lead track "No Es Brujeria" was promoted as the first single and it faired well on "Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks," but the promotion of the new album was quickly stalled after she announced she was expecting her second child. Later that year Ana Bárbara relocated to the resort city of Cancún, México where she currently resides with her two son's, Emiliano (born in 2000) and José María (born in 2006) and her husband "El Pirru" and his two children Paula (born in 2002) and José Emilio (born in 2004). Since then, Ana Bárbara's musical career was placed on hold in order to dedicate needed time to her new family and husband.

Ana Bárbara became a full-time dedicated mother of four small children. During her time-off from the music business, she opted on her entrepreneur side by joining the food-industry business. She opened her first exclusive restaurant titled "Chocalate City," located in Cancún, Quintana Roo México. There have been talks about opening a second restaurant in Miami Beach, Florida.

In Ana Bárbara's career span, she has been awarded four "Premio Lo Nuestro" à la Musica Latina awards in the Regional Mexican Best Female Artist category, with a total of 10 nominations overall. She won in the following years: 1996, 1997, 1998, and in 2006.

She has received a total of seven "Premio Furia Musical" awards, as well three "Premio El Heraldo" trophies for Best New Artist in 1994 and Best Female Singer in 1997 and 2000.

She won a Casandra Award (which is the Dominican version of the Grammy's) in 2002 for "Most Outstanding Artist" (located in another country) for international success.

In 2005, Ana Bárbara was awarded her first Latin Grammy Award for "Loca de Amar," which won "Best Grupero Album" at the 6th Annual Latin Grammy Award Ceremony held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. That night marked Ana Bárbara's Grammy performance debut with a special acoustic rendition of "Lo Busqué" and "Loca."

Since 1999's album, Tu Decisión, all of Ana Bárbara's albums have been recognized by either the Latin Grammy Awards or the tradicional Grammy Awards. She has received a total of four Latin Grammy Award nominations for her work in, Tu Decisión, Te Regalo La Lluvia, Te Atraparé... Bandido, and Loca de Amar (won) as well as a nomination in the tradicional Grammy Awards for 2006's No Es Brujería. Her former record label Fonovisa said "these recognitions are a milestone accomplishment in Ana Barbara’s career that spans more than a decade of uninterrupted success in the United States, México and Latin America."

In early 2008, Ana Bárbara expanded her entrepreneur side once again by co-sponsoring and partnering with Los Elegidos to open a nightclub titled after one of her biggest hits, "Bandido." Today Bandido night-club is currently located in Cancún, Quintana Roo México.

In July 2008, she participated in a tribute concert for legendary Mexican icon José José, where she performed a classic José José hit titled "Lo Pasado, Pasado;" she was quickly acclaimed for one of the night's highlight performances and for being on the "best dressed" list.

In April 2009, she topped People en Español Los 50 Más Bellos list. She was featured on the cover of this prestigious Hispanic magazine alongside Maite Perroni, Eva Longoria, and Ana de la Reguera, among others.

After four years of musical absence, Ana Bárbara remains a popular favorite in the music entertainment industry. AllMusic.com says: "Ana Bárbara has not only dominated the Grupero movement, but she is one of the driving forces behind the Grupero-style realization." In July 2009, Ana Bárbara was featured on the cover of People en Español where she explained details from the release of her 10th studio album; this appearance marked the third time that Ana Bárbara has been on the cover of the Hispanic celebrity magazine, once in 2005 and twice in 2009.

On August 26, 2009 Ana Bárbara previewed a sample of her new single titled Rompiendo Cadenas, a bouncy Urban-inspired Grupero track produced by Dominican duo Luny Tunes featuring Dyland and Lenny, on Hispanic television shows "El Gordo y La Flaca," and on "Al Rojo Vivo." Rompiendo Cadenas premiered on live television show Nuestra Belleza Mexico on September 20, 2009. During press interviews, Ana Bárbara revealed that her new album, Rompiendo Cadenas, would be released under newly launched independent music label AB Productions. The new album includes eleven new recordings, such as "Que Ironia," "Te Llevaste," and "No Me Imagino," among others, and was released in the United States on November 10th, 2009. The music video for lead single Rompiendo Cadenas was filmed in La Habana, Cuba and premiered on her official website on Monday October 19th, 2009; Lead single Rompiendo Cadenas debuted at number 39 on Billboard's Latin Pop Songs" on November 12, 2009.

Discography

• "Ana Bárbara" (1994, Self-titled Debut)
• "La Trampa" (1995)
• "Ay, Amor" (1996)
• "Los Besos No Se Dan En La Camisa" (1997)
• "Tu Decisión" (1999)
• "Te Regalo La Lluvia" (2001)
• "Te Atraparé... Bandido" (2003)
• "Loca de Amar" (2005)
• "No Es Brujería" (2006)
• "Rompiendo Cadenas" (2009)

Singles

• From the album Ana Bárbara:
  • "Nada"
  • "Sacúdeme"
  • "Todo Lo Aprendí De Ti"

• From the album La Trampa:
  • "La Trampa"
  • "No Se Que Voy Hacer"
  • "Me Asusta, Pero Me Gusta"

• From the album Navidad Con Amigos:
  • "Dame Un Beso En Nochebuena"

• From the album Ay, Amor:
  • "Ya No Te Creo Nada"
  • "No Lloraré"
  • "Y Siempre"

• From the album Los Besos No Se Dan En La Camisa:
  • "Los Besos No Se Dan En La Camisa"
  • "Como Me Haces Falta"

• From the album Tu Decisión:
  • "Engañada"
  • "Quize Olvidar"
  • "Todo Contigo"

• From the album Te Regalo La Lluvia:
  • "Eso No Es De Hombres"
  • "Te Regalo La Lluvia"

• From the album Te Atraparé... Bandido:
  • "Bandido"
  • "Deja"

• From the album Loca de Amar:
  • "Loca"
  • "Lo Busqué"

• From the album No Es Brujería:
  • "No Es Brujería"
  • "Solo Mio"
  • "Vete"

• From the album Rompiendo Cadenas:
  • "Rompiendo Cadenas"
  • "Que Ironia" (Version Rock)

Compilations

• "Lo Mejor de Ana Bárbara: En la Monumental Plaza México" (1997)
• "Hacia en Milenio" (1999)
• "15 Exitos" (2002)
• "Una Mujer, Un Sueño" (2004)
• "Confesiones: Ana Bárbara & Jennifer Peña" (2005)
• "Dos en Uno" (2005)
• "Divas Gruperas: Ana Bárbara & Alicia Villareal" (2005)
• "Más Confesiones: Ana Bárbara & Jennifer Peña" (2006)
• "La Trampa y Muchos Éxitos Más" (2006)
• "Para Ti... Mi Historia" (2006)
• "Dos Historias: Ana Bárbara & Selena" (2006)
• "La Mejor Seleccion" (2007)
• "En Familia: Ana Bárbara & Los Elegidos" (2007)
• "Partes de Mi Vida" (2008)
• "La Historia: Mis Exitos" (2008)

Collaborations

• 1994: Anibal Pastor: "Ana Bárbara" (Album)
• 1994: Joan Sebastian: "Al Olvido"
• 1995: Anibal Pastor: "La Trampa" (Album)
• 1995: Felipe Barrientos: "La Trampa" (Track)
• 1996: Jorge Avendaño: "Ay, Amor" (Album)
• 1996: Manuel Eduardo Castro: "Ya No Te Creo Nada"
• 1997: Marco Antonio Solis: "Los Besos No Se Dan En La Camisa" (Album)
• 1999: Anibal Pastor: Tu Decisión (Album)
• 2001: Fato: "Te Regalo La Lluvia" (Album)
• 2001: Emilio Estefan Jr.: "El Ultimo Adios" (Various Artists)
• 2002: Guardianes del Amor: "Rumores"
• 2003: Carlos Cabral, Jr.: "Te Atraparé... Bandido" (Album)
• 2003: Alejandro Vezzani: "Bandido" (Track)
• 2003: Rudy Perez: "Deja"
• 2004: Yuri: "Cosas Del Amor"
• 2005: Arthur Hanlon & Kike Santander: "Estar a Tu Lado"
• 2005: Los Elegidos: "Tal y Como Somos" (Album)
• 2005: Carlos Cabral, Jr.: "Loca de Amar" (Album)
• 2005: Alejandro Vezzani: "Loca" (Track)
• 2005: Rudy Perez & Kike Santander: "Me Mata Tu Ausencia"
• 2005: Reyli: "No Fue Casualidad"
• 2006: Los Elegidos: "Niña Mimada" (Album)
• 2006: Anaís, Mariana Seoane, & Pablo Montero: "Arriba, Arriba"
• 2006: Carlos Cabral, Jr.: "No Es Brujería" (Album)
• 2006: Pablo Montero: "Con Mis Propias Manos"
• 2009: Dyland & Lenny "Rompiendo Cadenas" (Track Vocals)
• 2009: Luny Tunes: "Rompiendo Cadenas" (Co-producers)
• 2009: Guillermo "Memo" Gil: "Rompiendo Cadenas" (Album, & Co-producer)
• 2009: Javier Calderon: "Rompiendo Cadenas" (Album, & Co-producer)
• 2009: León Polar: "Tengo," "No Volvió," y "No me Imagino" (Track Vocals)
• 2009: Pandora: "Han sido tantas," "Lo Siento," & "Mar" (Track Vocals)

External links

Ana Bárbara's Official Website

• Ana Bárbara's Official Website

Ana Bárbara's Official Twitter

• Ana Bárbara's Official Twitter

Ana Bárbara's Official Facebook

• Ana Bárbara's Offical Facebook

Ana Bárbara's Acceso Total Interview

• Ana Barbara's Acceso Total performance and interview

Chocolate City Restaurant Official Website

• Chocolate City Restaurant

AllMusic.com

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