Malena Muyala facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Malena Muyala
Background information
Birth name	Malena Muyala
Born	(1971-03-23) 23 March 1971 (age 54) San José de Mayo, Uruguay
Origin	Montevideo, Uruguay
Genres	Tango, milonga, Uruguayan pop
Occupations	Singer, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Labels	Bizarro

Malena Muyala was born on March 23, 1971. She is a famous singer and songwriter from Uruguay. Malena is well-known for her special style of music, especially tango and milonga. Many of her music albums have sold so well that they earned "gold" and "platinum" awards! She has performed concerts all over Uruguay and in other countries too.

Malena's Early Life

Malena Muyala was born in a city called San José de Mayo, in Uruguay. Her family has some roots from Lebanon. Her family, especially her grandmother, really supported her love for music and acting. She loved singing along to songs on the radio and TV.

When she was 11, Malena joined Teatro Macció, a theater group. There, she took acting classes and performed in plays like "Nuestro Pueblo" (Our Town). She also learned to play the guitar and took singing lessons. Around age 12 or 13, she started several music groups. One of these was an all-girl Murga group, which is a type of musical theater popular in Uruguay.

In 1988, she moved to Montevideo to study medicine. But she also joined an acting group called Antimurga BCG. She acted and sang in their plays.

Malena's Music Career

Malena's music career really began in 1991. She won first prize at the First National Tango Contest of Uruguay. About 350 people from all over the country took part in this big competition. In the same year, she formed her own band and toured around Uruguay. In 1994, another singer, Estela Magnone, invited Malena to sing with her group Seda.

In 1997, Malena started a project called "Malena Tanto Tango y Tanto Amor" (Malena, so much tango and so much love). The Uruguayan Ministry of Culture and Education chose her project. This meant she could perform her show in six cities across Uruguay and in Montevideo during 1998.

In December 1998, Malena Muyala released her first album, Temas Pendientes (Unresolved Issues). It quickly became one of the best-selling albums in Uruguay and won an Iris Prize. In 1999, her Temas album received a "Disco de Oro" (Gold Disc) award, meaning it sold many copies! In 2000, she continued touring for Temas in Argentina. She also recorded her second album, Puro Verso (Pure Verse), and released it that year.

In 2007, she released her third album, Viajera (Voyager), which also earned a Gold award. In December 2008, Malena performed a special show with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Montevideo. This concert celebrated the tenth anniversary of her first album. She recorded her fourth CD live and her first DVD, Malena Muyala en el Solís, at the famous Solis Theatre. It came out in 2009.

In 2010, she sang at the Palacio Legislativo (Legislative Palace) for the new lawmakers' first day in Parliament. She was also invited to Argentina to perform for a bicentennial celebration (a 200-year anniversary). She performed again with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Montevideo when the mayor took office. In 2011, she performed for Uruguay's bicentennial events. These events honored José Gervasio Artigas, a national hero, and the Oriental Revolution. She also recorded a song with other famous artists for Fundación Celeste. This is a non-profit group started by the Uruguay national football team to encourage sports.

In 2011, Malena Muyala toured different neighborhoods in Montevideo. She listened to stories from the local people. She wrote about her experiences in a book and album project called Pebeta de mi Barrio. Her tour was recognized by the United Nations and UNESCO. It also won an award at the Festival Cubadisco in 2012.

Malena's Band Members

Here are the people who play in Malena Muyala's band:

• Fredy Pérez – guitar, vocals, arrangements
• Mauro Carrero – guitar
• Juan Rodríguez – cello, arrangements
• Enrique Anselmi – bass
• Gustavo Montemurro – piano, accordion
• Gerónimo de León – drum percussion

When she toured Argentina, these musicians were in her band:

• Alejandro Ridilenir – guitar
• Rodrigo Genni – drums
• Pablo Martín – standup bass

A former band member was:

• Shyra Panzardo – bass guitar

Malena's Music Albums

Studio Albums

Live and Video Albums

Awards and Recognitions

Malena Muyala has received many awards and honors:

• Spokesperson for the Fundación Álvarez Caldeyro Barcia
• Woman of the Year
• Joven Sobresaliente (Outstanding Young Person)
• Iris Award / Diario El País
• 2009: Outstanding Citizen of Montevideo
• 2010: Graffiti Award (a music award in Uruguay), for Best Tango album Malena Muyala en el Solís
• 2012: Festival Cubadisco 2012 award, for Best International Album Pebeta de mi Barrio.

See also

In Spanish: Malena Muyala para niños