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Linda Bell Viera Caballero, better known as La India, is the princess of salsa and is pure Puerto Rican pride. From a young age, La India moved to New York City, where she lived in the Bronx with her family. Her journey with music began when she was a little girl, with it taking her to some amazing places, including studying opera as a career and exploring her voice in all sorts of ways until she cracked the code and broke into the mainstream.
© Getty ImagesLa India was inspired by her roots and by her grandmother when adopting her iconic moniker. 'La India' is the nickname that her grandmother called her when she was little, in reference to her skin, her features, and her silky black hair. Her professional career began when she was 14 years old, beginning to do some modeling work and also joining the group TKA, where she immediately stood out due to her vocal range. After working a few years with the band, she made the decision to branch out on her own, with her managers pitching her as a Latina Madonna, since she was making music within the dance/house genre.
"They wanted to change my essence and make me a part of American culture. Put simply, they wanted me to be white. And that's not what I am. I didn't want to be the next Madonna, I wanted to be myself, and that's what I did."
© Getty ImagesIn 1992, she found her true calling, clicking with the genre that would determine the rest of her prestigious career. She recorded "Llego La India, Via Eddie Palmieri," where she leaped into the world of salsa. The record was a hit, introducing her to Latin audiences who all wanted to sing and dance with her.
Her career continued with the release of "Dicen que Soy" in 1994, which became her biggest hit to date. The song featured "Vivir Lo Nuestro," her iconic collaboration with Marc Anthony. The rest is history.
La India's talent allowed her to work with icons like Tito Puente, releasing the record "Jazzin," which includes classic swing songs in English with a Latin twist. In 1996, she performed the song "Banderas" alongside other artists for the Olympic Games of that year. Shortly after, she performed with Celia Cruz, who dubbed La India 'The Princess of Salsa.'
"I identified a lot with him. Juan Gabriel and I were unwanted. It wasn't until we found music that we felt love from an audience, and felt such happiness to be onstage."
© Getty Images"Sobre el Fuego," her record released in 1997, granted her a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Tropical Performance, and various other nominations for shows like Premio Lo Nuestro. In 1998, she began an international tour that kicked off at the Centro de Bellas Artes in Puerto Rico.
Her record "Seduceme," released in 2003, gave her career a boost, granting her two nominations at the Latin Grammys for Best Salsa Album and Best Tropical Song. Earlier this year, La India was honored at the Premio Lo Nuestro, receiving the Premio a la Trayectoria award, a special recognition that celebrates some of the most accomplished careers in the Latin music industry. La India was emotional as she took the stage and the microphone, thanking the fans for their support over the years. "To the Latinos, we're important on this Earth. We're never leaving this land of the Americas. Ever!"
