Eva Garza

Eva Garza (May 11, 1917 – November 1, 1966) was a Mexican-American singer and film actress who acquired international recognition in the 1940s and 1950s. She collaborated on live radio shows and films with some of the leading performers of her time, including Mexico's Agustín Lara. She was nicknamed "Sweetheart of the Americas".

Eva Garza
Born11 May 1917
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Died1 November 1966
Tucson, Arizona, USA
Occupation(s)Singer, actress
Years active1935-1966 (film)

Biography

Eva Garza was the third oldest child of seven children raised by Cenobia B. Ramírez and Procopio V. Garza. Her father was the owner of a local barber shop. Eva's first exposure to public performances of music took place at church functions, local parties and over the local radio station. Subsequently, she entered several amateur competitions in San Antonio and was awarded several prizes.[1] By 1932 she embarked upon a series of performances on KABC radio which lasted for several years. She also performed in the popular radio show La Hoira Anahuac as well as in various vaudeville acts at the Nacional Theatre with Netty y Jesús and Don Sauve.Her early recordings of rhumbas and boleros with Bluebird Records also date from this time and include performances of: La Jaibera, Calientito, Cosquillas, Cachita and Qué Me Importa in 1936.[2][3]

After touring as the voice of the fan dancer Sally Rand in New York in 1937, Garza returned to Texas in 1938 and formed her own group billed as "Eva Garza and Her Troupe". During a three-year period between 1939 and 1942 she toured throughout Central and South America. While performing on the radio in Juarez, Mexico she met her future husband Felipe Bojalil Gil of the ensemble El Charro Gil y Sus Caporales. The couple was married in 1939 in San Antonio and eventually raised three children.[4][5]

After settling in New York City, Eva and her husband Felipe "El Charro" Gil recorded the bolero Diez Años by Rafael Hernandez for Columbia Records.[6] Performances on the Columbia Broadcasting System soon followed in 1941. Garza began to appear regularly at CBS and for Voice of America on the Viva America program in collaboration with such leading performing artists as: Alfredo Antonini, Terig Tucci, Juan Arvizu, Nestor Mesta Chayres, Miguel Sandoval and John Serry Sr.[7][8][9] [10] By 1945, her broadcasts on CBS's "La Cadena de las Americas" network were heard by audiences in twenty Latin American nations and by members of America's armed forces in Europe through the Armed Forces Radio Services [11] Garza's performances on the program earned her the nickname "Sweetheart of the Americas".[12][13]

As the 1940s came to a close, Garza moved to Mexico City to initiate performances with Radio XEW while collaborating with such leading performers as: Pedro Infante, Pedro Vargas, Javier Solis and Jorge Negrete.[14] While in Mexico she appeared in over 20 films with such leading actors as Toña la Negra (Amor Vendido, 1951),[15] Sara Montiel (Carcel de Mujeres, 1951)[16] and Luis Arcaraz (Acapulco, 1952).[17][18]

During the 1950s Garza also received contracts to perform in nightclubs throughout Latin America in such countries as: Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador and Colombia and Mexico. During her visits to Cuba she appeared in such prominent cabarets as Tropicana and Teatro Americano as well as on the popular television program Duelo de Pianos with Agustín Lara and Consuelo Velázquez.[19] She also performed on Havana's Radio Cadena Suaritos with the Cuban pianist Isolina Carrillo.[20]

While residing in Mexico, Garza recorded boleros written by such noted composers as: Agustín Lara, Gonzalo Curiél, and Joaquin Pardave for Columbia Records, Musart Records and Seeco Records. Included among her most outstanding recordings from this time are: Sin Motivo, Frio en el Alma and La Ultima Noche.[21][22][23]

In 1965 Garza married the Argentine artist Abel Reynosa after divorcing her first husband in 1953. She joined Reynosa in Buenos Aires and was subsequently lured back to Mexico by Columbia Records to record a retrospective album of some of her greatest hits: Vuelve Eva Garza- Mexican Encore. She subsequently resumed a concert tour of Arizona, New Mexico and Los Angeles California.[24]

Eva Garza recorded over 200 single recordings for such major record labels as Columbia Records, Seeco Records and Musart Records over the course of her career. Her discography includes recordings of such popular boleros as: Celosa, Cantando and Arrepentido. Critical reviewers in The Billboard took note of her warm, and expressive style of interpretation.[25] She was also cited for a deep, warm, rich and persuasive interpretations[26] and was the recipient of three María Grever Awards for Best Singer of the Year.[27] Hailed as one of the ten best singers in Mexico, Eva Garza is remembered as a versatile vocalist who was equally comfortable singing romantic boleros, corridos, tropical music and contemporary songs with ease.[28]

Death

During the course of a concert tour of the Southwest, Garza developed pneumonia and did not recover. She died at the age 49 in Tucson, Arizona. In accordance with her wishes, she was laid to rest in Mexico City.[29]

Selected discography

Eva Garza recorded over 150 single titles including:[30][31]

  • Arrpentido - Decca Records (Catalogue # 1041 8B) - Eva Garza sings this tango by Franciso Lomuto with orchestra (19??)
  • Beso Mortal - Seeco Records (Catalogue # 7046B) - Eva Garza sings this bolero by Eva Garza and Felipe Gil with La Orquesta de Ray Montoya (19??)
  • Cachita - Bluebird Records (Catalogue # B-2947-A) - Eva Garza sings this rumba by Rafael Hernandez (19??)
  • Calientito - Bluebird Records (Calatogue # B-2911-B) - Eva Garza sings this rumba with orchestra (19??)
  • Cantando - Columbia Records (Catalogue # EX-5189)- Eva Garza sings this bolero by M. Simone (19??)
  • Celosa - Columbia Records (Catalogue # EPC-528-A-2)- Eva Garza sings this bolero by P. Rodriguez (19??)
  • Cosquillas - Bluebird Records (Catalogue # B-2947-B) - Eva Garza sings this rumba with orchestra (19??)
  • Diez Años - Columbia Records (Catalogue # 6916-X) - Eva Garza sings this Bolero by Rafael Hernandez with El Charro Gil y Sus Caporales (19??)[32]
  • Eso Si Eso No - Colummbia Records (Catalogue # 1613C) - Eva Garza sings this cornado by Charro Gil with El Charro Gil y Sus Caporales (19??)[33]
  • Frio En El Alma - Seeco Records (Catalogue # 609A) - Eva Garza sings a bolero by Miguel Angel Valladares with Lazaro Quintero Orchestra (19??)[34]
  • Inutil Es Fingir - Seeco Records (Catalogue # 658A) Eva Garza sings this bolero by Carlos Gomez with Roberto Ondina y La Orquesta Suaritos (19??)[35]
  • La Jaibera - Bluebird Records (Catalogue # B-2911-A) - Eva Garza dings this rumba with orchestra (19??)
  • La Ultima Noche - Columbia Records (Catalogue # 6214-X) - Eva Garza sings this bolero by Bob Collazo with the Columbia Orchestra (19??)
  • Que Me Importa - Bluebird Records (Catalogue # B-2926-A) - Eva Garza sings this bolero with orchestra (19??)
  • Sabor De Engaño - Columbia Records (Catalogue # 6205-X) - Eva Garza sings this bolero by Mario Alvarez with Bill Gale and Orquesta de Salon Columbia (19??)
  • Sera Por Eso - Seeco Records (Catalogue # 609 B) Eva Garza sings this bolero by Consuelo Velazquez with the Lazaro Qunitero Orchestra (19??)[36]
  • Sin Motivo - Columbia Records (Catalogue # 6207-X)- Eva Garza sings this bolero by Gabriel Ruiz with La Orquesta de Salon Columbia (19??)
  • Sombras - Seeco Records (Catalogue # 658B) - Eva Garza sings this bolero by Agustín Lara with Roberto Ondina y La Orquesta Suaritos (19??)[37]
  • Tiempo Perdido - Seeco Records (Catalogue # 7102 B) - Eva Garza sings this bolero by Eduardo Lazo with La Orquesta de Juan Britto Tarraza (19??)[38]
  • Usted - Seeco Records (Catalogue # 7102 A) - Eva Garza sings this bolero by Gabriel Ruiz with La Orquesta de Juan Brito Tarraza (19??)[39]

Selected filmography

References
  1. Latin Music: Musicians Genres and Themes Editor Illan Stavans. Greenwood, Santa Barbara, CA 2014 p. 477 ISBN 978-0-313-34395-7 Eva Garza wins contests on google.books.com
  2. The Strachwitz Frontera collection of Mexican and Mexican American Recordings- Eva Garza Biography on frontera.library.ucla.edu
  3. The Texas State Historical Association Eva Garza Biography by Clayto T. Shorkey on tshaonline.org
  4. The Strachwitz Frontera collection of Mexican and Mexican American Recordings- Eva Garza Biography on frontera.library.ucla.edu
  5. Encyclopedia of Latino Popular Culture - Volume 2. Executive Editor Cordillia Chávez Candelaria. Greenwood Press, Westport CT., 2004 p. 826 ISBN 0-313-33211-8 Eva Garza and Los Tres Panchos on Google.books.com
  6. Diez Aňos performed by Eva Garza and El Charro Gil on frontera.library.ucla.edu
  7. The Strachwitz Frontera collection of Mexican and Mexican American Recordings- Eva Garza Biography on frontera.library.ucla.edu
  8. Dissonant Divas in Chicana Music: The Limits of La Onda Deborah R. Vargas. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 2012 p. 155-157 ISBN 978-0-8166-7316-2 Eva Garza and Viva America on google.books.com
  9. The Tango in the United States: A History Carlos G. Groppa. MacFarland & Co., North Carolina, 2004 ISBN 978-0-7864-4681-0 p. 144 Eva Garza and Terig Tucci on google.books.com
  10. Media Sound and Culture In Latin America and the Caribbean Editors Alejandra Bronfman and Andrew Grant Wood. University of Pittsburgh Press 2012 p. 49 "Viva America", Elsa Miranda and Terig Tucci, Alfredo Antonini, CBS Pan American Orchestra, Nestor Mesta Chayres, Juan Arvizu on Gogle.books.com
  11. Dissonant Divas in Chicana Music: The Limits of La Onda Deborah R. Vargas. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 2012 p. 152-155 ISBN 978-0-8166-7316-2 OCIAA (Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs), Eva Grza, FDR's Good Neighbor Policy, CBS, Viva America, La Cadena de las Americas on google.books.com
  12. Eva Garza- "Sweetheart of the Americas" on frontera.library.ucla.edu
  13. The Texas State Historical Association Eva Garza Biography by Clayto T. Shorkey on tshaonline.org
  14. The Strachwitz Frontera collection of Mexican and Mexican American Recordings- Eva Garza Biography on frontera.library.ucla.edu
  15. Amor Vendido on imdb.org
  16. Carcel de Mujeres on imdb.org
  17. Acapulco on imdb.org
  18. Eva Garza - Filmography imdb.org
  19. Dissonant Divas in Chicana Music: The Limits of La Onda Deborah R. Vargas. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 2012 p. 172 ISBN 978-0-8166-7316-2 Eva Garza performs in Tropicana and Teatro Americano on boobks.google.com
  20. Dissonant Divas in Chicana Music: The Limits of La Onda Deborah R. Vargas. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 2012 p. 168 - 171ISBN 978-0-8166-7316-2 Eva Garza and Agustín Lara in "Duelo de Pianos" on google.books.com
  21. Eva Garza Single recordings on Archive.org
  22. The Strachwitz Frontera collection of Mexican and Mexican American Recordings- Eva Garza Biography on frontera.library.ucla.edu
  23. Dissonant Divas in Chicana Music: The Limits of La Onda Deborah R. Vargas. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 2012 p. 167-168 ISBN 978-0-8166-7316-2 Eva Garza records her outstanding songs in Mexico on google.books.com
  24. The Strachwitz Frontera collection of Mexican and Mexican American Recordings - Eva Garza Biography on frontera.library.ucla.edu
  25. The Billboard - Record Reviews- Eva Garza Record review of Eva Garza in "The Billboard" November 8, 1947 p. 116
  26. The Billboard - Record Reviews - Eva Garza Record Review of Eva Garza in "The Billboard" August 30, 1947 p. 118
  27. Eva Garza and the Maria Grever Awards on tshaonline.org
  28. Eva Garza - Biography Eva Garza - one of the ten best singers in Mexico on frontera.library.ucla
  29. The Strachwitz Frontera collection of Mexican and Mexican American Recordings- Eva Garza Biography on frontera.library.ucla.edu
  30. The Strachwitz Frontera collection of Mexican and Mexican American Recordings- Eva Garza Biography on frontera.library.ucla.edu
  31. Eva Graza Single recordings of Eva Garza in performance on Archive.org
  32. Diez Años Single recording by Eva Garza with El Charro Gil y Sus Caporales on Archive.org
  33. Eso Si Eso No Single recording by Eva Garza with El Charro Gil y Sus Caporales on Archive.org
  34. Frio En El Alma Single recording by Eva Garza with lazzaro Quintero Orchestra on Archive.org
  35. Intuil Es Fingir Single Recording by Eva Garza with Roberto Ondina y La Orquesta Suaritos on Archive.org
  36. Sera Por Eso Single recording by Eva Garza with the Lazzaro Quintero Orchestra onArchive.org
  37. Sombras Singlerecording by Eva Garza with Roberto Ondina Y La Orqueata Suaritos on Archive.org
  38. Tiempo Perdido Single recording by Eva Garza with La Orquesta de Juan Britto Tarraza on Archive.org
  39. Usted Single recording by Eva Garza with La Orquesta de Juan Brito Tarraza on Archive.org
  40. Si Fue Cualquiera on imdb.org
  41. Acapulco film with Eva Garza on Archive.org
  42. Paco the Elegant on imdb.org
  43. Women Who Work on imdb.org
  44. Pistolos de oro on imdb.org

Bibliography
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