Milly Quezada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Milly Quezada
Background information
Birth name	Milagros del Rosario Quezada Borbón
Also known as	Reina del Merengue Queen of Merengue Music
Born	(1955-05-21) May 21, 1955 (age 70) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Origin	Dominican Republic
Genres	Merengue bachata
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter

Milagros del Rosario Quezada Borbón, born on May 21, 1955, is a famous singer from the Dominican Republic and the United States. She is known for her amazing Merengue songs. People often call her the "Queen of Merengue" because she has had a huge impact on this type of music. Milly has won four Latin Grammy Awards, which are very important music awards.

Early Life and Moving to New York

Milly Quezada was born in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. Her parents were from a region called Cibao. She grew up in a very musical family with four brothers who also loved music. Milly started singing when she was very young, performing for her family and friends.

When Milly was a child, her family moved to Washington Heights, Manhattan, in New York City. They moved there to escape the Dominican Civil War. Washington Heights was a lively place for Latin music back then. Living there helped Milly learn even more about merengue, which is a fast and popular dance music style from her home country.

Milly finished her schooling in New York City. She graduated from City College of New York in 1981 with a degree in communications. She also earned a paralegal degree in 1992.

Milly's Music Career

Starting with Milly, Jocelyn y los Vecinos

Milly's love for music grew in Washington Heights. She formed a music group with her brothers and sister, called Milly, Jocelyn & Los Vecinos. Their music became very popular with the growing Dominican community in Washington Heights. They were known for their unique merengue style, which was led by women.

Some of their popular songs from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s include "Volvio Juanita," "La Guacherna," and "Tengo." Many of these songs became holiday favorites. Milly's oldest brother, Rafael Quezada, was the group's musical leader. Milly and the group traveled all over the world. They were among the first to bring live Dominican Merengue music to major cities in Japan, like Tokyo and Osaka. They also toured in Spain, Central and South America, and many parts of the United States where Dominicans lived. In 1990, the group even performed at a special event for President George H. W. Bush in Washington, D.C.

Milly's Solo Journey

Later, Milly decided to start a solo career. She moved to Puerto Rico, where she got married and became a mother. As a solo artist, she became even more successful. Since the 1990s, Milly has been busy touring and recording new music. She has won many important awards and received special honors, like keys to cities.

In 1996, Milly took a break from music after her husband and manager, Rafael Vázquez, passed away. She had been making music for twenty years and had released twenty albums. In 1997, her friend Pedro Nuñez del Risco encouraged her to start recording again. After this, Milly released many popular songs like "Lo Tengo Todo," "Entre tu Cuerpo y el Mío," and "Porque me Amaste."

Recent Music and Collaborations

In recent years, Milly Quezada has worked with many other artists. She has collaborated with singers like Fefita la Grande, Maridalia Hernández, Gilberto Santa Rosa, and Olga Tañón. Many of these collaborations were on her 2019 album, "Milly & Company." In 2020, she released "Gracias A Ti," a song to thank frontline workers for their hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since 2021, Milly has been a coach on The Voice Dominicana, a popular singing competition show. Her singers won in both seasons she coached.

In 2022, Milly released her thirty-fifth album, Resistirá, with Chris Hierro. She also released a remix of "Se Busca" with Alexandra, La Ross Maria, and Techy Fatule. In 2023, she released a song called "Llegasté" with Manny Cruz.

In 2023, Milly started her "Viva La Reina" tour to celebrate her 45 years in music. She performed at famous places like the Coca-Cola Music Hall in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the Eduardo Brito National Theater in Santo Domingo.

Milly's Family Life

Milly Quezada was married to Rafael Vázquez from 1976 until he passed away in 1996. He was also her manager. They had three sons named Miguel, Anthony, and Rafael Jesús.

Milly was a close friend and student of the famous singer and band leader Johnny Ventura. After he passed away in 2021, Milly often performed songs to honor him in her concerts. She also sang with Johnny's son, Jandy, on a tribute album.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Milly Quezada, the "Queen of Merengue," has received many national and international awards for her tropical music. These include:

• Four Latin Grammy Awards.
• The highest honor in her genre, the "Premio Soberano," at the Premios Cassandra Awards in the Dominican Republic in 1997.
• Billboard awards and Univision's Premio Lo Nuestro in 1998.
• ACE Awards in New York and "Tu Musica" award.
• Various "Congo de Oro" awards during the Carnaval de Barranquilla tours in Barranquilla, Colombia. Her song "La Guacherna" is well-known at this carnival, which is recognized by UNESCO.
• She has been honored by the Senate of Puerto Rico, the Senate of the Dominican Republic, and the Mayor of New York City for her contributions to music in the Americas.

OTHER AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

• In 1998, she was added to the musical archives of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
• In 2001, President Hipolito Mejia gave her the "Orden Cristobal Colon/Grado Oficial" medal.
• She received a Bronze Star on the Boulevard of the Stars in Panama City, Panama.
• In 2007, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recognized her musical work during Hispanic Heritage Month.
• In 2008, she received the "Orden al Merito Ciudadano" medal from Dominican Consul General Eduardo Selman.
• In 2008, President Dr. Leonel Fernandez named her "Ambassador of Cultural Affairs," a title she still holds.
• In 2008, she was the Master of Ceremony for the Cassandra Awards and won "Best Actress" for her role in the movie "Yuniol 2."
• In 2010, she received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Dominican American Nat'l Roundtable in Washington, D.C.
• In 2011, Berklee College of Music in Boston gave her a special recognition.
• In 2011, Hostos Community College gave her their Presidential Medal of Honor for her music.
• In 2011, she received the "Orden de Barlovento" medal from the Atlantic Chamber of Representatives of Barranquilla, Colombia.
• In 2012, she won two Latin Grammy Awards for her album "Aqui Estoy Yo."
• In 2015, the Mayor's Office of Barranquilla declared Milly an "Adoptive Daughter."
• In 2017, she received 8 awards during the "Extraordinary Woman Gala Ceremony" in Providence, Rhode Island, and a special honor from the Senate of Rhode Island.
• In 2017, the Governor's Atlantic Department of Colombia gave her the "Puerta de Oro de Colombia" medal and named her a musical Ambassador.
• In 2019, she received the ASCAP Latin Heritage Award.
• In February 2021, the United States Congress, led by Representative Adriano Espaillat, officially recognized Milly for her music.
• In 2021, she received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Milly Quezada has also received the Keys to the City from:

• Jersey City, New Jersey
• Providence, Rhode Island
• New York City, New York
• West New York, New Jersey

Milly in Movies

In early 2009, Milly joined eleven other Dominican music legends on a tour to celebrate merengue and bachata music. This tour was made into a documentary film called Sol Caribe by Felix Limardo. The movie included a special song, "La Puerta del Nuevo Mundo," sung by all twelve stars. The film was shown at the III Dominican Republic Global Film Festival in 2009, and the President of the Dominican Republic attended.

Besides "Yuniol 2," Milly has acted in other movies: "Cal y Arena" in Puerto Rico, "Hermanos R.D." in the Dominican Republic, and "Juanita," which was released in December 2018.

In 2022, a movie about Milly's life, called MILLY Queen of Merengue, was announced. It will star Sandy Hernandez and be directed by Leticia Tonos.

Milly's Albums

Milly Quezada has released many albums during her more than four decades in the music industry. She has released 31 records with different music labels.

Albums with Milly y los Vecinos

• 1976 Esta es Milly con los Vecinos
• 1977 La gente de hoy
• 1978 Pa' Dominicana
• 1979 Milly en Boleros
• 1980 Los Vecinos en su momento
• 1981 Fiesta Con Los Vecinos
• 1982 Acabando
• 1983 Nostalgia
• 1983 Milly en Salsa (with Luis "Perico" Ortiz)
• 1983 Avant Garde
• 1984 Esta Noche, Los Vecinos
• 1985 Dinastía
• 1986 Special Delivery
• 1987 Etiqueta Negra
• 1988 Por Supuesto
• 1989 Ahora Es
• 1990 7+1= Vecinos
• 1991 Flying Solo
• 1993 Celebrando
• 1995 Lo Mejor de Milly y los Vecinos
• 1995 En tus manos

Solo Albums

Milly Quezada has recorded many albums as a solo singer. She won Latin Grammy Awards for her albums Pienso asi, MQ, and Aquí Estoy Yo.

• 1997: Hasta siempre
• 1998: Vive
• 2000: Tesoros de Mi Tierra (Her first time singing bachata music)
• 2001: Milly, éxitos y más
• 2002: Pienso así...
• 2005: MQ
• 2015: Solo Boleros La Milly una noche
• 2016: Sólo Faltas Tú
• 2016: Aquí Estoy Yo
• 2019: Milly & Company
• 2022: Resistirá

Images for kids

• 

  Milly Quezada, the "Queen of Merengue."

See also

In Spanish: Milly Quezada para niños