Soraya (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Soraya
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Soraya Raquel Lamilla Cuevas |
| Born | March 11, 1969 Point Pleasant, New Jersey, United States |
| Died | May 10, 2006 (aged 37) Miami, Florida, United States |
| Genres | Latin pop, pop rock, alternative rock, world, folk |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, guitarist, arranger, record producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 1996–2006 |
| Labels | Island, Polydor, Mercury, EMI, Capitol |
Soraya Raquel Lamilla Cuevas (born March 11, 1969 – died May 10, 2006) was a talented singer, songwriter, and musician. She was known for her beautiful voice and her ability to play the guitar. Soraya was born in the United States, but her family came from Colombia.
She became a successful music star, especially in Latin music. Two of her songs reached number one on the Billboard Latin Pop charts. In 2004, she won a Latin Grammy Award for her album Soraya. She also received another Latin Grammy nomination in 2005. Soraya performed at the 2005 Billboard Latin Music Awards. She had a music career that lasted ten years and released five albums.
Sadly, Soraya passed away on May 10, 2006. She had been battling breast cancer for several years.
Contents
About Soraya's Life
Her Early Years
Soraya Raquel Lamilla Cuevas was born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Her parents and brother had moved to the United States from their home country, Colombia, a year before she was born. When Soraya was a baby, her family moved back to Colombia. However, they returned to New Jersey when she was eight years old.
The name "Soraya" is common in the Middle East. It means "Pleiades", which is a group of stars. Soraya's family on her mother's side were Lebanese Christians. They had moved from Lebanon to Colombia. Her mother, Yamila Cuevas Gharib, was a housewife. Her father, Gregorio Lamilla, worked for an exporting company. Life was tough for the family in the U.S. Her father worked many jobs to support them. Both of her parents were from Cali, Colombia.
Discovering Music
Soraya first fell in love with music when she was five years old. She heard her uncle playing a traditional Colombian folk song called "Pueblito Viejo." He played it on a tiple, which is a type of guitar with triple strings. Her parents bought her a guitar, and she taught herself how to play it.
She also became very good at playing the classical violin. Her first public performance was at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She played there as part of the N.Y.C. Youth Philharmonic. Soraya was also a top student at Point Pleasant Borough High School. It was there that she started writing her own songs.
Family and Studies
When Soraya was 12, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time. Her mother's cancer came back when Soraya was 18. Her mother passed away in 1992 when Soraya was 22. Soraya felt a strong sense of responsibility. She helped take care of her mother and managed household chores. She also went with her mother to doctor's appointments. Together, they learned about breast cancer and took part in the Race for the Cure.
Soraya went to Rutgers University in New Jersey. She studied English literature, French philosophy, and women's studies. At first, she was shy about performing for large crowds. But she overcame her fear and discovered her amazing talent. She performed for eager audiences at coffee houses and events around the Rutgers campus. Before becoming a singer, she worked as a flight attendant.
Soraya's Music Career
First Albums and Success
Soraya signed a record deal with Polygram Records/Island Records in 1994. Her first album was released two years later. It came out in both English and Spanish at the same time. The English version was called On nights like this, and the Spanish version was En esta noche. Both albums were praised by critics. This allowed her to tour in the U.S., Latin America, and Europe. She performed as a special guest for famous musicians like Natalie Merchant, Sting, and Alanis Morissette.
Her songs quickly became popular in Latin America, Europe, and among Hispanic listeners in the U.S. Her first single, "Suddenly/De Repente", reached number one on the Billboard Latin Pop charts. The English version was also played on some mainstream radio stations. Her second album, Torre de marfil / Wall of smiles, was released in late 1997. This album helped her become known around the world.
Battling Illness and Returning to Music
In 2000, Soraya was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer. This happened shortly after her third album, Cuerpo y alma / I'm yours, was released. She had to stop her music tour and promotion to focus on her health.
After fighting her illness and feeling healthy again, Soraya returned to music in 2003. She released her fourth album, which was self-titled, Soraya. The songs on this album shared her personal struggles, beliefs, and her love for life. She wrote, produced, and arranged the entire album. It won the Latin Grammy for "Best Album by a Singer-Songwriter."
She released one more successful album, El otro lado de mí, before she passed away in 2006.
Soraya's Legacy
Her Fight Against Cancer
Soraya passed away from breast cancer in Miami, Florida, on May 10, 2006. She was 37 years old. She first found a lump during a self-check in 2000, when she was 31. She was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer. She had surgery and received treatments like radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Breast cancer ran in Soraya's family. She had also lost her mother, a grandmother, and a maternal aunt to the disease.
Advocacy for Breast Cancer Awareness
Soraya became a strong supporter of breast cancer education and help, especially for Hispanic women. She was the first Latin spokesperson for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. She traveled across the Americas to help raise awareness about the disease. During September and October, she would take a break from her music career to focus on this important cause.
To inspire other women, Soraya wrote and recorded a song called "No one else/Por ser quien soy." This song shared her own experience fighting breast cancer. You can download both versions of the song from her official website. All the money raised from these downloads goes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Before she passed away, Soraya shared a message with her fans and the media. She said, "I know there are many questions without answers and that hope doesn't leave with me, and above all, that my mission does not end with my physical story."
Discography
Studio albums
- En Esta Noche / On Nights Like This (1996)
- Torre de Marfil / Wall of Smiles (1997)
- Cuerpo y Alma / I'm Yours (2000)
- Soraya (2003)
- El Otro Lado de Mi (2005)
Compilations
- (1996) Sálvame/Save Me Tributo A Queen: Los Más Grandes Del Rock En Español
- (1998) Todo Lo Que Él Hace (Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic) on Outlandos D'Americas
- (2001) Desert Roses and Arabian Rhythms, Vol. 1
- (2001) Serie 32
- (2003) Essentiales (The Ultimate Collection)
- (2005) Éxitos Eternos
- (2005) The Best of Soraya (20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection)
- (2005) Dreaming of you with Barrio Boyzz, Selena Vive! (Tribute to Selena)
- (2006) Gold (2-CD best-of)
- (2006) Herencia
- (2006) Entre Su Ritmo y El Silencio
See also
In Spanish: Soraya (cantautora) para niños
