American singer
Elsa Garcia is a Mexican-American Tejano singer and producer from Houston, Texas. She has had four albums certified gold, and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1991 for her album, Simplemente.
Early life
Elsa Garcia was born in Monterrey, Mexico. The daughter of Mexican singer Hermelinda “Linda La Norteña” Escamilla, she was introduced to music at an early age. Her family moved to Houston, Texas, when she was two years old. Before coming to music, Garcia had worked at different jobs including deejay, accountant, and banker. She also hosted her own radio talk show.
Career
Elsa Garcia who has been involved in music for over fifteen years and not only performs and records, she also produces and arranges her own albums, making her the first female producer in the Tejano music industry causing her to coin the nickname "La Primera Dama". Garcia started as a replacement vocalist for her husband's band after their lead singer was experiencing throat problems and could not perform. The band then renamed to Elsa Garcia and Company and released their first album Yo Nunca Pense in 1984. Notable songs from the album are Aventura De Mi Vida and Agonia. The band then released the album Fresh in 1986 which had a cover of Juan Gabriel's hit song Tu No Me Dijiste Adios. Elsa leading the band into releasing two more albums Olvidemosos (1987) and Que Piensas (1988). The band's last independent album Ella (1989) gained the group hometown success. Notable songs from the album are Ella, Tres, Todo Se Va and Ayer Estuven Con Mi Nuevo Amor. In 1989 the band signed with EMI Latin which was a growing attraction for many Tejano bands. The band renaming to just Elsa Garcia was off to success and putting all of the spotlight on Garcia. The newly signed band got their first EMI Latin album Simplemente (1990) a Grammy nomination. The next album the band released with EMI Latin Ni Mas, Ni Menos (1991) was the first album to be certified gold thanks to the song "Ya Te Vi." The band had a lot of success and garnered lots of popularity with their albums Pasion, (1992) Escapate Conmigo, (1993) and Diez. (1995) Escapate Conmigo released in 1993 gave the band their second grammy nomination and became one of the bands more well received albums. Garcia who at this point became one of the driving forced in Tejano Music despite being a male dominated industry was ready to celebrate her tenth year in music. The album Diez (1995) showed to be the bands most popular album. The album had two of Garcia's biggest hits Diez, and La Luna Sera La Luna. After the death of friend Selena Quintanilla-Perez Garcia participated in the Selena tribute at the Houston Astrodome on May 29, 1995. Later in 1995, the then mayor of Houston declared that October 24 would be Elsa Garcia day. In 2011, Garcia was inducted into the Tejano roots Hall of Fame. In 2012, she was awarded the "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the Tejano Music Awards. Garcia has been retired from music since 1999 but has made a comeback in the recent year (2024). Garcia's signature tunes on stage were La Luna Sera La Luna and Ya Te Vi. She is one of a few Tejano artists to get radio airplay in Mexico during the 1990s.
Discography
- Yo Nunca Pense 1984
- Fresh 1986
- Olvidemonos 1987
- Que Piensas 1988
- Ella 1989
- Simplemente 1990
- Ni Mas, Ni Menos 1991
- Pasion 1992
- 10 Grandes Exitos 1992
- Escapate Conmigo 1993
- 12 Super Exitos 1994
- Diez 1995
- Tu Solamente Tu 1995
- Live Vol. 1 1996
- Como Tu Y Yo 1996
- Elsa 1998
- Tejano All Stars 2002
- Original Masters 2003
- 15 De Coleccion 2003
- Face off: Elsa Garcia & Laura Canales 2008
References
