Although it is one of her biggest hits, La India was hesitant to record “Ese Hombre,” the 1994 song that eventually became a certified anthem for Latina women across generations. “I thought the lyrics were too harsh,” the Puerto Rican-born star says today. “I love men and I felt no anger towards them. I thought, 'How am I going to sing this?'”
Inspiration from one of her favorite artists (Rocío Jurado, who sang the song in the 70s) and a push from famous hit maker Sergio George (who produced her breakthrough album in 1994 Dicen Que Soy, home of “Ese Hombre” and assured her that the song would be a hit), La India described the lyrics, about a man who is “a fake, vain clown who is also mean and vicious”, over her signature mix salsa with an R&B and hip-hop sensibility. Singing with such conviction, and with her unmatched vocal ability, she inevitably became the voice of a generation and a fixture in salsa music.
The track reached No. 1 Advertising sign's Tropical Airplay chart, where it ruled for five weeks. In fact, she has a total of 11 leaders on that tally, the most of any female artist. On the Tropical Albums chart, she had 15 career entries – also the most of any female act – with six reaching No. 1, including Dicen Que Soywhich also features Marc Anthony's timeless duet “Vivir Lo Nuestro”.
Born Linda Caballero, the 55-year-old artist comes from a musical family. Both her mother and grandmother were singers and noticed La India's vocal abilities early on. “My grandmother raised me on music,” says La India, who grew up in New York's South Bronx listening to a myriad of genres, including hip-hop, salsa, pop and rock. “At five [years old], I could sing songs from start to finish, a cappella and on key.” In her teenage years, she joined the freestyle and house music group TKA and says she is “very proud” of the dance works she released in her early 20s.
But salsa was her destiny, she adds.
“When I switched to salsa, everyone around me was scared at first – but I wasn't,” she says. “It was just a matter of me feeling the difference between the downbeat and the upbeat clave. So I came in with my style: I bring soul, R&&, hip-hop to salsa music.”
Considered “La Princesa de la Salsa” — a moniker bestowed upon her by the great Celia Cruz, known as “La Reina of Salsa,” whom La India humbly calls her godmother — La India's powerful vocals have attracted the attention of stars such as Eddie Palmieri. whom she met in a studio session and who produced her first salsa album in 1991, and the iconic Tito Puente, with whom she went on to record a Latin jazz album. He then teamed up with Sergio George for Dicen Que Soywhich won tropical/salsa album of the year by a female artist at the second annual Billboard Latin Music Awards.
“It's the most innovative album of the 90s. It changed my life,” says La India. “It was huge on the radio and from there we never looked back.” It is an album that she also “spiritually dedicated” to Cruz, her idol. “In all the years of great music and excellence, he never saw me as a rival. He welcomed me to tropical salsa and said, “You're going to keep yours and you're the salsa princess” – he blessed me with that. In a male-dominated genre, it opened doors for me. I look to her for my strength. I continue to celebrate her and I know she would be proud of me today.”
Up for a Pioneer Award at the 2024 Billboard Latin Women in Music, La India has, for four decades, gifted women with anthems that make them feel empowered, something they don't take for granted.
“I knew that through my singing, I was born to make people feel emotions,” he explains. “When I sing, I don't sing just to sing. We're here to make music that will last forever, and I'm proud of that.”
Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024 will air exclusively on Telemundo Sunday (June 9) at 9 p.m. ET and will also be available on the Telemundo app and Peacock.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/la-india-salsa-music-pioneer-award-latin-women-in-music-1235699920/
