Yolanda del Río

One of the most successful ranchera singers, Yolanda del Río was born in Pachuca in Hidalgo state. Del Río began singing as a child, and performed on radio and at festivals. She made her television debut before she became a teenager, and debuted for RCA Victor after auditioning for A&R director Felipe "El Indio" Jiménez. Within a year, her "La Hija de Nadie" single sold over a million copies and made her a star. She quickly moved her touring base beyond Mexico to the United States, the rest of Central America, and even Europe. The hits kept coming, including "Se Me Olvidó Otra Vez," "Tus Maletas en la Puerta," "Llorar, Llorar, Llorar," and "Camas Separadas," and Del Río eventually sold almost 20 million records around the world. By 1977, she'd made the transition to the film world, as well, with the successful vehicle La Hija de Nadie, plus several follow-ups. She continued recording and performing into the '90s and grabbed a Grammy nomination in 1984. ~ John Bush