Lunna
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- This article is about the singer. For the community in Belarus, see Lunna, Belarus.
Lunna (born Maria Socorro Garcia de la Noceda on June 30, 1960 in Ponce, Puerto Rico), is a singer of Pop and Jazz.
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[edit] Biography
Lunna was raised by both her parents in Ponce which is located in the southern part of the island. While in elementary school, she learned how to play the guitar and in 1973, her mother had her take private singing lessons. She loved to sing and was considered by many to very talented. Her friends in high school would call her by her nickname "Socky", which was short for her middle name Socorro.
In 1978, Socky auditioned and was accepted in a group called Allegro, a locally popular group which included singer Tito Lara. Besides singing for Allegro, she also landed jobs singing radio and television commercials. Socey eventually decided to leave the group and sing solo. Her agent recommended that she change her artistic name and that's when she adopted the name of "Lunna".
She met and became romantically involved with Puerto Rican rock and roll teen idol, Charlie Robles. This romance was highly publicized in Puerto Rico and soon they were married. Sockey and Charlie had a daughter from this marriage; however, things didn't go well in the marriage and the couple ended up in divorce.
In 1981, Lunna went to Lima, Peru, to represent Puerto Rico at the OTI Music Festival, with the song "Eres Mi Musica" (You're My Music). Her fame soared in Puerto Rico, but her career was interrupted because of personal reasons. After four years of absence from the world of music, Glenn Monroig, a fellow singer, convinced her to return. Together they recorded the album "A Todo Dar" (Everything Gives), the first digitally produced album in Puerto Rico. The album was renamed "Motivos" (Motives) and was produced by Angel "Cuco" Peña, it became a big "hit" in Puerto Rico. Among the songs included in the album was the song "Yo Perdi" (I Lost). "Yo Perdi" made Puerto Rican musical history, when it became the "first" Puerto Rican song to be converted into a musical video, filmed in 35mm. In 1983, Lunna married "Cuco" Peña, with whom she had three children, Gabriel, Juan and Angel (they later divorced).
In 1987, Lunna was signed by A&M Records and recorded the following successful songs, "No Digas Nada" (Don't Say Anything), "Ni Princesa, Ni Esclava" (Nor Princess, Nor Slave) and "Fugitiva Amante" (Fugitive Lover). That same year, she was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 1988 and 1989, Lunna continued to score more "hits" with the recording of "Soledad" (Loneliness), "Quien No Ha Sentido..." (Who Hasn't Felt...) and with "Como Ser Amante" (How to be a Lover) written by Michael Bolton.
In 1992, Lunna reunited with Glen Monroig and together they recorded the album "Yo Que Te Adore" (I, Who Have Adored You). In 2003, Lunna recorded "Lunna de Bohemia", which included many classical boleros. That same year, she suffered a personal tragedy when her son died.
Lunna, who is also a jazz lover, participated in the "Heineken Jazz Jam Session" and in the "Tropical Night at the Seaport".
[edit] Recognitions and awards
Among the many recognitions and awards Lunna has received are the following:
- Represented Puerto Rico in the OTI Festival (1981)
- Paoli Best New Artist Award (1986) and (1993)
- Diplo Female Sensation of the Year Award (1986)
- El Vocero Performer of the Year (1986)
- Paoli Performer of the Year Award (1987)
- Collage Night Club Best Show of the Year 1987
- Bravo Awards Miami Performer of the Year 1987
- GRAMMY Nomination Best Latin Performance (1988)
- Dominican Republic Performer of the Year 1988
- Agueybana Performer of the Year Award 1988
- Super Q Miami Performer of the Year and Best Song of the Tear Awards (1989)
- Special recognition from the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1990)
- El Encanto de la Isla Award (1993)
- Radio WNNW Boston Performer of the Year (1993)
- Official Godmother of the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York (1994)
- Puerto Rican Camara of Representatives Special Recognition 1994
- J.C. Penney Beauty Luminary 1994
- Special Guest "Banda de Puerto Rico" (Band of Puerto Rico) in Spain (2000)
- Special Guest "Concierto Paz por la Paz" (Peace Concert) (2002)
- Special Recognition from the Senate of Puerto Rico (2004}
[edit] Civic participation
Among the many organizations in which Luna is currently involved as a private citizen are the American Cancer Society, Puerto Rico Easter Seals, Say "No" to Drugs campaign, the Pediatric AIDS Center and the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund. She is also a member of "La Damas Cívica de Puerto Rico" (The Civic Lady of Puerto Rico) and she was the director of the television show Objetivo Fama, which was the Latin version of American Idol. Lunna studies classical singing and musical composition at the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico, where she earned her Bachelors Degree in Buiness Administration.
[edit] Discography
- Motivos (a/k/a A Todo Dar) (1986)
- Lunna (the album) (1987)
- Seré Tuya Esta Noche (1988)
- Ventanas (1989)
- Yo Que Te Adoré (1992)
- Formas de Amarte (Pelican Records (1996)
- Lunna Bohemia (2003)
Alternate Discography:
- Allegro - 1978
- Te Canto Navidad – Triste Navidad - 1991
- 14 Súper Estrellas – 14 hits – 1991
- Viva Puerto Rico – 1993
- Si Me Miras a Los Ojos – Tony Vega - 1994
- Ricardo Montaner y Amigos - 1994
- Voces de Puerto Rico – Barrunto - 1994
- Un Pueblo que Canta (Banco Popular de Puerto Rico) - 1996
- El Espíritu de un Pueblo (Banco Popular de Puerto Rico) - 1996
- Déjame Intentarlo –Johnny Rivera - 1996
- Free to Be, Vol. 6 "Un Amor como el mío", "The Right Stuff" - 1997
- Temptation – Brenda K. Starr – 2002
- Ocho Puertas *(Banco Popular de Puerto Rico) - 2003
