| Born December 23 in Albuquerque,
New Mexico, STEFANI MONTIEL arrived with a rich cultural
lineage extending to Mexico, Spain, Germany and Italy. Her
Mexican-American roots, nevertheless, are her source of
pride and the solid foundation for her life and her music.
Searching for a future in the music business, Stefani moved
to San Antonio, Texas in hopes of realizing greater fame.
She was soon signed to a long term contract with Sony Discos
and released "TE VOY A ENAMORAR" which established
her as a major force in the Tejano music industry. The second
album, "TODO MI AMOR" proved that Stefani was
not a "one-hit wonder" and expanded her fan-base
by including more of a "Pop" feel to some of the
songs.
Her next release "PORQUE SOY MUJER" (Because I
am a Woman) delivered songs that are now standards including
"Porque Soy Mujer, "Baila Conmigo", and the
driving beat of "Ven Conmigo".
Her fourth album " DULCE SENSACION" (Sweet Sensation)
featured one of the first songs she ever sang, "Angel
Baby" with a Spanglish and a Spanish version featuring
a cumbia beat. The first single "Ay Papi" written
by Stefani, included a Tejano, hip-hop, and "Mambolicious"
tropical version which all drew immediate success and airplay
throughout the country as well as Los Angeles, Miami, and
Puerto Rico. The album was so successful it earned Stefani
a nomination for "BEST TEJANO PERFORMANCE" at
the first ever Latin Grammys in 2000.
The most recent release, TAKIN ON THE WORLD is loaded with
radio-friendly hits. The album hints at Regional Mexican,
Pop, and Tropical while still strongly rooted in the Tejano
sound. The painstaking detail of the arrangements, the lyrics,
the vocal delivery and the production quality speak volumes
of Stefani Montiel's talent and earned her another nomination
for "BEST TEJANO ALBUM" at the Grammys in 2005. |
