Sandra Luna

b. 1966, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Born in one of the poorest districts of Buenos Aires, Luna was a very musical child. Singing from a very early age, before she entered her teens she was singing professionally in local tango bars. As she grew up, important shifts were taking place in the style of music associated with the tango, notably through the work of composers such as Astor Piazzolla, whose period of influence began in the 60s. She also encountered musicians such as Roberto Grela and Héctor Varela and the young Luna absorbed these influences; indeed, she extended them because while traditional tango music was largely instrumental, during the 90s she became one of the prime movers in developing the emergence of tango-canción, the songs of the tango. Other artists in the forefront of this movement were Roberto Goyeneche, Nelly Omar and Edmundo Rivero. Importantly, Luna never lost sight of the music’s origins and these past images shine through her contemporary variations. Luna sang with many distinguished artists, including bandleader Antonio Agri. She began broadcasting, appearing on television and along the way picking up the name by which she was thereafter known. In 2003, Luna was nominated for a Grammy Award for the Best Traditional World Music Album, for Tango Varón. Gradually extending her reputation around the world, through the international release of Tango Varón and appearances at important overseas gatherings, such as London’s jazz festival, by the early 00s, Luna had established herself as a major figure in world music.