Cristina Sevilla

{{short description|Spanish singer (born 1965)}} {{family name hatnote|Sevilla|Martínez|lang=Spanish}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = CristinaSevilla.jpg | caption = Sevilla in 2022 | name = Cristina Sevilla | native_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|03|03}} | birth_place = [[Madrid]], Spain | origin = | occupation = Singer | instrument = | years_active = 1981–present | current_member_of = [[Baccara]] | label = {{hlist|[[RCA Corporation|RCA]]|[[Lionheart Music Group|Lionheart]]|Team 33 Music}} | website = {{URL|https://www.baccara-oficial.com/}} }} '''María Cristina Sevilla Martínez''' (born March 3, 1965)<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Metason |title=Cristina Sevilla |url=https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Cristina%20Sevilla |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=ArtistInfo |language=EN}}</ref> is a Spanish singer and songwriter, a later member of the duo [[Baccara]].<ref name=":3" />

== Life and career ==

=== Early life === Cristina Sevilla was born in [[Madrid]].<ref name=":2" /> Her father was a passionate musician who formed a musical group with Sevilla's uncle in the 1950s. For a while during her elementary school years, she took singing lessons, but Sevilla began seriously considering a singing career when she finished high school.

Before fully dedicating herself to music, Sevilla pursued higher education at the Teatinos Campus of the [[University of Málaga]], where she studied Psychology for one year and Medicine for another.

Sevilla's first public performance took place at the opening of the ''Robinson'' Piano Club in [[Marbella]] on December 19, 1981. Her repertoire performed at the club included songs by such artists as [[Barbra Streisand]], [[The Beatles]] or [[Frank Sinatra]]. Sevilla performed at the club for two years, marking the beginning of her professional career.

In interviews, Sevilla has recalled her experience at the ''Olivia Valère'' nightclub in Marbella, where she encountered several well-known personalities. During one of her performances, she met actor [[Sean Connery]], who asked the audience for silence so that her singing could be heard.

According to these same accounts, Sevilla also mentioned an encounter with musician [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] at the ''Babilonia'' restaurant, part of the Olivia Valère complex. The American artist was accompanied by his wife and a group of bodyguards. While they were dining, Sevilla performed a repertoire of songs alongside the pianist, and at Prince’s request, she approached his table with a wireless microphone and sang The Beatles’ song ''Let It Be'' for him.

For several years, she performed with various pianists; later Sevilla's stepbrother joined her. They performed until 1986 at private events in music club ''Sonata''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.todocoleccion.net/carteles-litografia/cartel-espejo-sonata-piano-bar-fuengirola-emblematico-local-anos-70-80-43-5x33-5~x41431783 | title=CARTEL ESPEJO - SONATA PIANO BAR FUENGIROLA - EMBLEMATICO LOCAL AÑOS 70/80 - 43,5x33,5 }}</ref> in [[Fuengirola]]. Soon after, Sevilla and her stepbrother decided to open their own piano club, that they named ''Symphony''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.todocoleccion.net/entradas-antiguas-conciertos/flyer-entrada-discoteca-symphony-piano-club-fuengirola-malaga-1987-ver-fotos~x410476229 | title=Flyer Entrada Discoteca Symphony Piano Club Fuengirola Malaga 1987 Ver Fotos }}</ref> The club existed from 1988 to 1990.

In 1990, Sevilla performed a role of the protagonist's girlfriend in the series ''[[El C.I.D.]]''<ref>{{Citation |last=Parker |first=Brian |title=Dog Days |date=1990-02-21 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0899653/?ref_=tt_mv_close |access-date=2024-03-28 |series=El C.I.D. |others=John Bird, Alfred Molina, Simón Andreu}}</ref> Later Sevilla started performing with her band ''Calypso Orchestra'', and they toured actively during nine years, performing in such countries as [[Morocco]] and [[Venezuela]]. In April 1998 [[María Mendiola]] (original member of [[Baccara]]) with her husband have visited Sevilla's performance.

From 1997 to 1999, Sevilla performed in the Spanish music program ''Canciones de nuestra vida''<ref>{{Cite news |date=1997-07-18 |title='Canciones de nuestra vida' |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1997/07/18/radiotv/869176819_850215.html |access-date=2024-03-03 |work=El País |language=es |issn=1134-6582}}</ref> on [[Antena 3 (Spanish TV channel)|Antena 3]] channel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-08 |title=Canciones de nuestra vida en Antena 3 Internacional |url=https://www.antena3internacional.com/programas/20-aniversario/noticias/canciones-nuestra-vida-antena-internacional_201608085b0319fb0cf2a7ba0a1c73cb.html |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=Antena 3 Internacional |language=es}}</ref>

=== Baccara === Cristina Sevilla joined the duo [[Baccara]] in 1999 formed by one of its original founders, Mayte Mateos.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Modin |first=Lina |date=2004-02-16 |title=Yes sir, they can boogie! |url=https://www.expressen.se/noje/melodifestivalen/yes-sir-they-can-boogie/ |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=www.expressen.se |language=sv}}</ref> From 1999 to 2004, this line-up of Baccara released two albums. The first Baccara album, in the recording of which Sevilla took part, was released in 1999 and named ''Baccara 2000''.<ref>{{Citation |title=Baccara - Baccara 2000 |url=https://hitparade.ch/album/Baccara/Baccara-2000-5445 |access-date=2024-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DELFÍN |first=PATRICIA COSTA/MEMORIA DE |date=2023-01-23 |title=Baccara: vuelven las reinas del "Boogie" |url=https://www.rtve.es/television/20230123/baccara-vuelven-reinas-boogie/2416004.shtml |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=RTVE.es |language=es}}</ref> In 2004, Sevilla's voice was recorded for one more album of Baccara – ''Soy Tu Venus''.<ref>{{Citation |title=Baccara - Soy tu Venus |url=https://hitparade.ch/album/Baccara/Soy-tu-Venus-33801 |access-date=2024-04-07}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Citation |title=Baccara 2.0 {{!}} Eurovision Legends |date=2022-02-02 |url=https://shows.acast.com/eurovisionlegends/episodes/baccara-2 |access-date=2024-03-03}}</ref> Sevilla and Mateos participated as Baccara in the [[Melodifestivalen]], the Swedish national selection for the [[Eurovision Song Contest]] in 2004 with the song ''Soy Tu Venus''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Melodifestivalen 2004: Baccara - "Soy tu venus" |url=https://eurovisionworld.com/national/sweden/melodifestivalen-2004/baccara-soy-tu-venus |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=Eurovisionworld |language=en-gb}}</ref>

In 2011, Cristina Sevilla joined the formation created by the second founding member of Baccara's original line-up, [[María Mendiola]].<ref name=":3">{{Citation |title=Baccara {{!}} Eurovision Legends |date=2020-05-07 |url=https://shows.acast.com/eurovisionlegends/episodes/5ef9a42fedf2b34ef52fd669 |access-date=2024-03-03}}</ref> During that time, Sevilla had the opportunity to meet with musicians such as [[Boney M.]], [[Gibson Brothers]], and [[Ottawan]]. In 2012, María Mendiola and Cristina Sevilla performed at the ''Legends of Retro FM''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Смотреть фотоотчет фестиваля "Легенды Ретро FM" — все фото "Легенд Ретро FM" |url=https://legendy.retrofm.ru/photo/2012/msk |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=«Легенды Ретро FM»}}</ref> festival in 2012 at the [[Olympic Stadium (Moscow)|Olympic Stadium]] in front of nearly 25,000 people.<ref name=":0" /> In May 2017, the album ''[[I Belong to Your Heart|I Belong To Your Heart]]'' was released,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Telemadrid |date=2017-06-07 |title=Baccara vuelve con nuevo trabajo y recibe el Disco de Oro |url=https://www.telemadrid.es/noticias/cultura/Baccara-vuelve-trabajo-Disco-Oro-0-1909909031--20170607060246.html |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=Telemadrid |language=es}}</ref> featuring vocals by Mendiola and Sevilla, with the new repertoire that was, however, preserving the typical Baccara style. One of the songs was recorded with the popular Spanish performer, [[Mario Vaquerizo]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 July 2017 |title='Yo sí que bailo'… con Baccara y Mario Vaquerizo |url=https://shangay.com/2017/07/31/yo-si-que-bailo-con-baccara-y-mario-vaquerizo/ |website=}}</ref> In 2018, Mendiola and Sevilla released the single ''Gimme Your Love (Bobby To Extended Mix)''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tobaja |first=Xavi |date=2018-11-09 |title=Baccara - Gimme your love (Bobby to extended mix)- Nuevo Disco |url=https://topdiscoradio.com/baccara-gimme-your-love-bobby-to-extended-mix-nuevo-disco/ |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=Topdisco Radio |language=es}}</ref>

In September 2021, after the passing of María Mendiola,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Minder |first=Raphael |date=2021-09-23 |title=María Mendiola, Half of a Chart-Topping Disco Duo, Dies at 69 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/23/arts/music/maria-mendiola-dead.html |access-date=2024-02-29 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mulligan |first=Euan O'Byrne |date=2021-09-12 |title=Maria Mendiola, half of Spanish vocal duo Baccara, dies aged 69 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/sep/12/maria-mendiola-half-of-spanish-vocal-duo-baccara-dies-aged-69 |access-date=2024-02-29 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-09-12 |title=Yes Sir, I Can Boogie singer dies aged 69 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58533613 |access-date=2024-02-29 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Sevilla decided to continue the project as a homage to Mendiola's legacy.

On January 26, 2022, spanish singer Helen De Quiroga joined Sevilla as her musical partner.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.eldia.es/dominical/2022/03/06/nuevas-baccara-63485633.html | title=Las nuevas Baccara | date=6 March 2022 }}</ref>

Throughout her career, Sevilla has visited with concerts about 50 countries. According to her opinion, the most exotic country where she has performed is [[Mongolia]].

=== Personal life === Privately, Sevilla is married and a mother of two sons.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2017-06-10 |title=Baccara, el grupo musical de finales de los 70, presenta su nuevo trabajo |url=https://www.europapress.es/chance/cineymusica/noticia-baccara-grupo-musical-finales-70-presenta-nuevo-trabajo-20170610082949.html |access-date=2024-04-07 |publisher=Europa Press}}</ref> {{as of|2011}}, Sevilla lives in [[Munich]], [[Germany]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Planeta Disco, 16-17H - 20/02/2024 |url=https://bomradio.com/ |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=BOM Radio |language=es}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://www.baccara-oficial.com/ Baccara | Official Website] * [https://www.discogs.com/artist/734792-Cristina-Sevilla Cristina Sevilla] at [[Discogs]]

{{Baccara}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sevilla}}u [[Category:1965 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Spanish singer-songwriters]]