Elida Reyna (born August 17, 1972), also known as Elida, is a Mexican American Tejano music singer.[1][2]

Elida Reyna
November 11, 2010 – Elida Reyna won a LATIN Grammy Award.
Born
Elida Reyna

(1972-08-17) August 17, 1972 (age 52)
Other namesElida La Reina De Mágico Valle
Height5 ft 2 in (157 cm)
Musical career
Genres
OccupationSinger-songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years active1992–present
Labels
  • Voltage Entertainment
  • Tejas Records
  • South Central Music
  • Freddie Records

Her band Elida Reyna Y Avante, also known as Elida Y Avante (EYA), is a Latin Grammy Award winning Tejano band formed in the Rio Grande Valley in 1992. Their first two albums "Atrevete" (1994) and "Algo Entero" (1996) were qualified for gold status and produced the popular singles "Luna Llena"and "Lagrimas De Amor". They were awarded "Billboard" Magazines "Revelacion Del Año" award, and were named "Rising Group of the Year" at the TTMA Industry Awards in 1995. Their 2010 album, "Fantasia", earned them a Latin Grammy Award. Lead singer Elida Reyna was given a place in the "Tejano Roots Hall of Fame".

Biography

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Elida Reyna was born in San Antonio, Texas. She first lived in Dallas, Texas, but she lived in a disinvested neighborhood, and her grandmother had been ill, so her family decided to move to Mercedes, Texas when she was 8 years old. She was then raised in Mercedes. Growing up she listened to Tejano Music legends like Roberto Pulido, La Mafia, Grupo Mazz and Laura Canales. Canales and her music had a big influence on Elida. Canales showed Elida that Tejano music wasn't just for guys. Reyna is known as "La Reina Del Valle Mágico" ("The Queen of Magic Valley") Reyna began singing at quinceañeras and weddings in 1988. In 1991, while studying at Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas, she met arranger Noel Hernandez. Hernandez later became the bass player for the band. In 1992, Reyna abandoned her studies to pursue music full-time.

Elida y Avante

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Elida Reyna y Avante
 
Background information
Also known asElida Y Avante, EYA
OriginRio Grande Valley, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Years active1992 (1992)–present
Labels
  • Voltage Entertainment
  • Tejas Records
  • South Central Music
  • Freddie Records
Members
  • Elida Reyna
  • Lalo Reyna, III
  • Victor Trevino
  • Lorenzo "Papo" Banda
  • Jacob DeLeon
  • Nicolas Rodriguez
Past members
  • Roberto Longoria
  • Danny Bazan
  • Dusty Reyes
  • Cande Aguilar Jr.
  • Noel Hernandez
  • Larry Villanueva
  • Juan Martinez
  • Randy Villarreal
  • Epifanio Martinez
  • Casey Palma
  • Pete "Tiny" Gutiérrez
  • Robby Esparza
  • Leroy Esparza
  • Michael Molini
  • Crystal Martinez
  • Crissy Guerrero
  • Diane Herrera
  • Jose Macias

She formed Elida Y Avante in 1992 in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. They released their first album Atrevete in 1994 under La Mafia's label at the time, Voltage Entertainment. This album spawned the hit "Luna Llena" They received TTMA Industry Awards for "Rising Group of the Year" and "Rising Female Vocalist of the Year" in 1995. It went gold (denoting sales of at least 50,000 units), propelled by the hit single "Luna Llena" and Hernandez's use of a stand-up bass to create a unique sound. Before they could enjoy their success, however, they were feuding with Voltage. Groups rarely leave a powerhouse like Voltage (with its major-label distribution) unless they've already lined up another company with comparable juice, so Elida y Avante shocked the industry by going out on its own. The group self-released one single and then did something nearly as shocking by signing in 1996 with unknown Tejas Records in San Antonio, which had released just one album—and a blues album at that. In 1996, Reyna won the TTMA Award for "Rising Female Star" and in 1997, she hosted the Pura Vida Awards. At the 1999 Tejano Music Awards, Elida Y Avante won "Most Promising Band of the Year". In 2000 Reyna scored big with a Ranchera song entitled, "Duele". At that years Tejano Music Awards, Reyna won "Female Vocalist of the Year", "Female Entertainer of the Year", & "Song of the Year", with "Duele". Reyna has since traveled the world, performing in Asia and Europe.

Las 3 Divas

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In 2005, Reyna and fellow Tejano singers Shelly Lares, and Stefani Montiel, formed the girl group "Las 3 Divas". Their debut album Las 3 Divas earned rave reviews, plenty of radio airtime and critical acclaim even winning "Show Band of The Year". This album spawned the hits "La Cumbia Del Oeste" and "Hey Boy". Later that year, Las 3 Divas went on a 21-day tour overseas to entertain the troops. The "Armed Forces Entertainment Tour" began on September 27, 2005, and ended on October 17, 2005.

In 2007, Reyna signed with record label Freddie Records, and released her first album with them Domingo. Reyna has been featured in numerous magazines and other Latin publications. At the 2010 – 30th Anniversary Tejano Music Awards, Reyna won two Decade Ballots for "Female Vocalist of the 2000s" & "Best Song of the 2000s" with Duele. Reyna has also performed for President Barack Obama at the Latino Inaugural Ball, where she performed a duet "Quedemos Como Amigos" with fellow Tejano singer Michael Salgado. Reyna appeared in the Motion Picture "Harvest Of Redemption" directed by Javier Chapa. In the movie, she performed her hit "Duele". In 2010 Elida Reyna Y Avante released the album Fantasia. This album helped them win a Latin Grammy. Reyna and her band mostly performs at Tejano nightclubs, dances, and music festivals. Some of the bands popular songs include: "Luna Llena", "Te Sigo Amando", "Lagrimas De Amor", "Ya Basta", "Duele", "No Eres Para Mi", "Me Gustas", "Te Voy A Olvidar", "Muevete", "Tu Llegaste", "Cumbia Sabrosa", "Por Dios", "Por Ti", "El Tiki Tac", "Fantasia", "Prefiero Morir", and "Juntos Hasta Morir".

Personal life

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Elida is married to Lalo Reyna, III. She has three children: Natalia, Justin, and Leylah.

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Discography Album
1991 Mestizo Records Sola
1994 Sony Records Atrévete
1996 Tejas Records Algo Entero
1998 Tejas Records EYA 1998
1999 Tejas Records Mágico
2001 Tejas Records No Eres Para Mí
2003 Tejas Records Muévete
2005 Tejas Records Si Me Quieres
2006 Tejas Records Mis Raíces
2008 Freddie Records Domingo
2010 Freddie Records Fantasía
2012 Freddie Records Contigo Descubrí
2013 Freddie Records EYA NATION
2014 Freddie Records Al Fin Completa
2015 Freddie Records Adicta
2017 Freddie Records Mi Época
2018 Freddie Records Colores

Compilations

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Year Discography Album
2004 Tejas Records Duele: Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
2004 Tejas Records Luna Llena
2008 Tejas Records Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
2012 Freddie Records Lo Mejor
2014 Freddie Records Club Mix
2017 Freddie Records 40 Éxitos

Live albums

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Year Discography Album
2009 Freddie Records Live
2011 Freddie Records Simplemente Eya

Awards

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Tejano Music Awards

1999 – 19th Tejano Music AwardsMost Promising Band of the Year – Elida Y Avante

2000 – 20th Tejano Music Awards - Female Vocalist of the Year, Female Entertainer of the Year, Mexican Regional Song – Duele, Song of the Year – Duele.

2003 – 23rd Tejano Music AwardsVocal Duo Shelly Lares & Elida Reyna – Amiga

2006 – 26th Tejano Music Awards - Crossover Song of the Year – Hey Boy – Las 3 Divas (Reyna, Montiel & Lares)

2007 – 27th Tejano Music AwardsFemale Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year – Conjunto – Mis Raizes, Crossover Song of the Year – Las 3 Divas – Slip ‘N’ Slide, Showband of the Year – Las 3 Divas

2008 – 28th Tejano Music Awards – Song of the Year (Elida's Medley), Female Vocalist of the Year.

2009 – 29th Tejano Music Awards - Female Vocalist of the Year.

2010 – 30th Anniversary Tejano Music AwardsFemale Vocalist of the Year, DECADE BALLOT WINNERS – Female Vocalist 2000s, Best Song 2000s (Duele)

2011 – 31st Tejano Music AwardsSong of the Year (Prefiero Morir), Female Vocalist of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year – Tejano – Fantasia, Vocal Duo of the Year Elida Reyna & Michael Salgado – Amor O Costumbre

2012 – 32nd Tejano Music AwardsSong of the Year – Juntos Hasta Morir – Elida Reyna and Jesse Turner, Female Vocalist of the Year, Entertainer of the Year.

Latin Grammy Awards 2010

Best Tejano Album

Elida Reyna Y Avante – Fantasia

Latin Grammy Awards 2019

Best Tejano Album

Colores

References

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  1. ^ Cordelia Candelaria, Peter J. García, Arturo J. Aldama Encyclopedia of Latino Popular Culture 2004 Volume 2 p.822 "Also in her midthirties, Elida Reyna played in various bands, growing up in Mercedes, Texas, ..."
  2. ^ Billboard – March 20, 1999 p. 19 "Elida Reyna and Bobby Pulido were celebrated as new major forces in Tejano music at the new Tejano Entertainers and Musicians Assn. (TEMA) Awards, held Feb. 27 here. Reyna was a big winner..."