Mayra Veronica's First Album release, Vengo Con To', is a ten song Album capturing the sound of a new generation and it could be described as a Latin fusion of modern beats from Salsa to Reggaeton and Flamenco to Cumbia.

10 MP3 Songs
LATIN: Latin Pop, URBAN/R&B: R&B Pop Crossover



Details:
MAYRA VERONICA

One of FHM's "Top 100 Sexiest Women In The World" three years straight, MAYRA VERONICA is ready to launch her bi-lingual music career, with debut albums to be released nationwide this summer and fall in both Spanish and English. Her first Latin release entitled, Vengo Con To' showcases Mayraâs love of various musical styles that include the Latin flavors of merengue, salsa, cumbia, and cha cha cha (add more styles).

Mayra has graced the pages of magazines from FHM to Maxim, as well as the covers of Men's Edge, Smooth, Smoke, Maxim En Espanol, For Your Eyes, and countless others. She will also be featured in the upcoming Nike commercial television campaign opposite Lebron James; EA video games created a new video character after her in their Def Jam 3 video game; and she will play Frankie J's love interest in the video for his first single of his upcoming album. Mayra was also recently voted by the U.S. Military Troops as their "Favorite Pin Up" Girl for '05 and '06. As if thatâs not enough, this genuine Renaissance woman enjoyed one of the nationâs top-selling calendars in 2004, 2005, and now in 2006 -- being the #1 Latina-selling calendar in the world.

Now, Mayraâs musical passion arrives unbounded with her debut Latin album, "Vengo Con To'", a full-bodied expression of her Cuban heritage that includes the hit single, "Vengo Con To". The collection is an irresistible invitation to dance to the beats of life as it captures Mayraâs sensual spirit, teasing playfulness and sexy exuberance. For the CD, she teamed up with top Latin music producers, including Kiki Santander and Roy Tavares. The tracks on âAy Mama Miaâ include the title song, which is the first single and âCanten,â a tribute to Latin music giant Polo Montanez.

Making the transition from television as a regular on the national Univision Networks âDon Francisco Presentaâ during her three-year run, to a recording artist, Mayra has had music in her soul almost from birth. As a very small girl, Mayra Veronica can recall sitting by her fatherâs side as he played Cenicienta, a Cuban song about Cinderella. While sheâs found a glass slipper of her own two decades later with almost fairy-tale success as an in-demand actress and model, those achievements have come through hard work and the determination to make it on her own terms.

For years Mayra considered music to be her fatherâs realm; he played guitar and sang for Cubaâs most popular rock band of the 1970s, Los Dada, appearing at the top hotels and clubs throughout the country as little Mayra would watch rehearsals and performances from the wings. While she pursued other avenues, the need for self-expression through song still filled her heart. She remembers singing into a hairbrush and prancing around her room as a child, singing hits of the day from Kim Carneâs âBette Davis Eyesâ to the country music of Kenny Rogers like âLucilleâ and âCoward of the County,â pretending she was at a rodeo.

Born Mayra Veronica Aruca Rodriguez on August 20 in Havana, Cuba, Mayraâs family moved to the U.S. when she was six years old and they settled in one of Miami, Floridaâs Cuban communities. It was actually something of a culture shock when she moved to New York City after college. âSuddenly, I was considered Latin,â she says, âWhen I just always considered myselfâ¦American.â

Mayra studied ballet for 16 years in all, taking a break when adolescence took over and she grew âvoluptuous,â she laughs now. She also won various honors in a number of beauty pageants, including second runner-up as Miss Miami and Miss Hispanic America. When it became clear that a career in dance was not to be, Mayra turned to acting, but not before graduating from Florida International University with a major in psychology and a minor in business, applying those skills later as her entertainment career blossomed.

Traveling back and forth from the Big Apple to home in Florida, Mayra studied at the famed Strassberg Institute for acting, earned roles in stage plays, and was also signed as a spokesmodel for the giant Univision television network. At home in Florida, she became a host for the Miami television entertainment magazine, âMiami Hoy,â writing, producing and editing her own segments as she interviewed a roster of celebrities, ranging form Donald Trump and Hugh Hefner to Burt Reynolds, Tim Allen and Marc Anthony. Mayra also starred in featured roles in PBS productions, independent films such as âTumbeâ, and appeared in nationwide Spanish language ads for a wide array of companies including Loreal, Ford, Colgate, Burger King, Coca Cola, and Allstate. She then landed the role on Univisionâs âDon Francisco Presentaâ, in which viewers embraced nationwide, making Mayra one of their top female personalities (Mayra is also the #1 most downloaded female personality on the Univision website).

Five years ago, Mayra decided to develop her longtime passion for music with vocal lessons. As with the voice and diction sheâd studied years earlier, she became an adept, serious student. Although Mayra hopes to become a songwriter someday, she believes that, as with all other areas of her career, itâs a craft she must master and while sheâs written poetry for years, sheâs knows songwriting is a skill to develop. âI will ultimately bring it out, and would rather work first with people who know what theyâre doing,â she humbly says.

The launching of Mayraâs music career continues the stunning rise of this self-made star, whoâs been named âthe sexiest woman on Latin televisionâ, and is both proud, and yet cautious, when it comes to her role as a sex symbol. âBeing raised with Catholic background, even though my father was musician, being sexy was not something you wanted to grow up and be,â she says, âStill, itâs something I couldnât deny being because it is who I am⦠I was acting sexy at the age of six when I was singing into the mirror in my room, so itâs something very ingrained.â
Mayra has also taken what she learned from acting and applied it to her performances in the studio and on-stage. âItâs my favorite thing to do, bringing the music to life,â she says. âI enjoy the work in the studio, but also love an audience.â

Most of all the key to Mayraâs past triumphs and her new journey as a recording artist is the taking of a hands-on approach, with attention to every aspect âIâm learning to delegate, but I like to know what is going on and going out,â she says. âOne thing got from my father is very high standards, so itâll take awhile for me to get there, but I set those high standards for myself.â