Gaby Moreno
Gaby Moreno | |
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![]() Moreno in 2012 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Maria Gabriela Moreno Bonilla |
Born | Guatemala City,Guatemala | December 16, 1981
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer, musician, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
Years active | 1997–present |
Labels | Metamorfosis,Nonesuch |
Website | gaby-moreno |
Maria Gabriela Moreno Bonilla(born 16 December 1981) is a Grammy-winning Guatemalan singer-songwriter and guitarist. Singing in both English and Spanish, Moreno's music covers many genres includingLatin,alternative,blues,folkandAmericana.
Early life
[edit]Maria Gabriela Moreno Bonilla[1]was born on 16 December 1981 inGuatemala City[2]and later moved toLos Angeles.
Career
[edit]Music
[edit]In August 2009, Moreno toured withTracy Chapman.Later, in November 2009, Moreno toured as direct support forAni Difrancoon an East Coast tour. Difranco invited Moreno back out on tour in January and February 2010. In July 2010 Moreno went on tour inGermany(e.g. inConstance,Heidelberg,andRavensburg) andFrance.
In early 2011 Moreno and her band played their first headlining tour. They toured through theNetherlandsandBelgiumperforming as part of the "World Sessions" tour. In addition, Moreno and her band opened as direct support forNouvelle Vaguefor three shows in Germany. In late 2011 Gaby toured the U.S. East coast as direct support forThe Milk Carton Kids.
Moreno played some concerts in France in February 2012. Later that spring, she performed withRicardo Arjonaduring his "Metamorfosis World Tour." In June, Moreno performed onThe Tonight Show with Jay Lenoto commemorate 50 years ofAmnesty International,together withKris Kristoffersonand others. Throughout May and June, Moreno played concerts in Ireland ( "Electric Burma" in honor ofAung San Suu Kyitogether withBono,Damien Rice,Bob Geldof,Angelique Kidjo,etc.), Germany, France, and London (withVan Dyke Parks) In July, Moreno played concerts in France, includingLe Havre,Verdun,and Paris.
In 2013, she toured withHugh Laurieand The Copper Bottom Band through Europe, in March 2014 in South America, namely Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.
On 28 February and 1 March 2015, Moreno played at Festival Acústico under the name "Gaby Moreno y amigos". Her performances featured guest appearances byOscar Isaac,Sara Watkins,Ishto Jueves, Devorah Rahel (with whom she played the song "Y Tu Sombra" ) and El Gordo. Moreno also played a song called "Maldición, Bendición".
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Music_-_Gaby_Moreno_-_Bowery_Ballroom_%2818211132503%29.jpg/220px-Music_-_Gaby_Moreno_-_Bowery_Ballroom_%2818211132503%29.jpg)
In March 2015, Moreno went on tour in Europe, playing at Theater Akzent inVienna,Austria (19 March, her first show in Vienna), Casino Kulturraum inFriedrichshafen,Germany (20 March), La Spirale inFribourg,Switzerland (21 March), andCankar CentreinLjubljana,Slovenia(24 March). On 24 July 2015 Moreno performed at theLincoln CenterinNew York Citywith Out of Doors. Starting in 2016, Moreno became a recurring guest onLive From Here.
In 2018, Moreno released a cover ofTrinidadianartistDavid Rudder's 1998 song "The Immigrants," made with arranger and producer Van Dyke Parks, ahead of theU.S. Independence Day (4 July),with proceeds going to benefitCARECEN.
¡Spangled!,a collaboration between Moreno and Parks, was released in 2020 on Metamorfosis &Nonesuch Records.The album includes abolerofromPanama,aBoss a novafromBrazil,a song by Moreno,David Rudder's "The Immigrants," andRy Cooder,John HiattandJim Dickinson's song "Across the Borderline," performed with Cooder andJackson Browne.
Composing
[edit]As a composer, Moreno recorded and produced the score for the feature filmLanguage Lessons(directed byNatalie Morales) and received anEmmynomination for "Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Song" for the theme song toNBC's showParks and Recreation.[3]
In 2022, Moreno released a full-length album,Dreamers Dream On,with her three-part harmony side project, The SongBirds, and released her self-produced seventh solo studio albumAlegoría,which has earned her a secondGRAMMYnomination.[4][5]
Television
[edit]Moreno sings the theme song and voices a character (Marlena) for theDisneychildren's television series,Elena of Avalor.[6]Her version of the song "Cucurrucucú Paloma"was featured in a key scene during the last season of theNetflixoriginal showOrange Is the New Black.
Moreno appeared alongsideRupert Grintin aCatherine Hardwicke-directed episode ofGuillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities.[7]Moreno also collaborated with composerHeitor Pereirato write and perform the song "Por Que Te Vas" forDreamWorks Animation'sPuss in Boots: The Last Wish.
Reception
[edit]Moreno has been received positively by Al Borde,[8]KCRW,[9]Latina,[10]NBC Latino,NPR[11](includingAll Things Considered,[12]Alt. Latino,[13]andTiny Desk Concerts[14]),Orlando Weekly[15]andThe New York Times.[16]
The music video for "Fuiste Tu",her duet withRicardo Arjona,has amassed over 1 billion views onYouTube.[17]
"This Guatemalan American singer-songwriter alternates fluidly between languages, whether spoken (English and Spanish) or musical, easing in and out of everything from folksy alt country to retro blues rock…Plucky, quirky and insightful, Moreno has the grace and the skill to make it big." – Rhapsody: No. 3 in Top 10 Latin Alt Albums of Spring 2011[18]
In 2012, she was listed as one of the "5 Latinos to Look Out for in 2012" by NBC Latino.[19]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- 2009:Still the Unknown(released independently)[20]
- 2010:A Good Old ChristmastimeEP (released independently)[21]
- 2011: European release ofStill the Unknown(World Connection Records)[22]
- 2011:Illustrated Songs(released independently)
- 2012: European release ofIllustrated Songs(World Connection Records)[23]
- 2012:Postales(Metamorfosis)[24]
- 2014:Posada(Christmas Album)[25][26]
- 2016:Illusion[27]
- 2019:¡Spangled![28](a collaboration withVan Dyke ParksthroughNonesuch Records)
- 2022:Alegoría(Metamorfosis)
- 2023:X Mí (Vol 1)(Cosmica Artists)
- 2024:Dusk(Cosmica Artists)
Singles
[edit]- 2009: "Smile" –The Cove– sang the song "Smile" (written byCharlie Chaplin)[29]
- 2010: "Quizas"
- 2017: "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" – withMike Garson
- 2018: "The Immigrants" – with Van Dyke Parks
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Hugh Laurie: Live On The Queen Mary | Backing Vocals | |
2019 | La Llorona | Title song |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Family Guy | (voice) | Episode: "Dearly Deported" |
2018–20 | Elena of Avalor | Marlena (voice) | 3 episodes |
2019 | Undone | Herself | Episode: "Alone In This (You Have Me)" |
Awards and nominations
[edit]In 2006, she won the Grand Prize in theJohn Lennon Song writing Contestwith her song "Escondidos," first in the Latin category, then overall.
In 2010, Moreno was awarded "Favourite American Latino Indie Artist" at the American Latino Awards (run byAmerican Latino TV).
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Ilusión | Best Latin Pop Album | Nominated |
2024 | X Mi (Vol. 1) | Won |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | "Fuiste Tú" | Record of the Year | Nominated |
2013 | Gaby Moreno | Best New Artist | Won |
2020 | ¡Spangled! | Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album | Nominated |
2021 | "Bolero de la vida" (withOmara Portuondo) | Best Tropical Song | Nominated |
2023 | Vida(with Omara Portuondo) | Best Traditional Tropical Album | Won |
References
[edit]- ^Schweizer, Renate (14 October 2019)."Sie singt und die Welt steht still".Backnanger Kreiszeitung(in German).Retrieved25 January2024.
- ^"Gaby Moreno Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More".AllMusic.
- ^Ann Donahue (8 July 2010)."'Idol,' 'SNL' Join 'Glee' with Emmy Nominatons ".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on 24 February 2017.Retrieved29 May2020.
- ^"Gaby Moreno is making music on her terms".NPR.org.Archivedfrom the original on 21 October 2022.Retrieved21 October2022.
- ^"2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List".grammy.Archivedfrom the original on 16 November 2022.Retrieved17 November2022.
- ^Cantor-Navas, Judy; Cantor-Navas, Judy (10 June 2016)."Gaby Moreno Sings Theme Song for Disney Channel Latina Princess Show 'Elena of Avalor'".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on 21 October 2022.Retrieved21 October2022.
- ^Gonzalez, A. J. (17 October 2022)."Guillermo del Toro's 'Cabinet of Curiosities' Releasing Episodes Over 4 Nights — Here Are the Dates".Remezcla.Archivedfrom the original on 21 October 2022.Retrieved21 October2022.
- ^Hilda Gabriela (1 March 2011)."Gaby Moreno's 'Illustrated Songs' Is All About Going Big, Or Going Home".AB's Top Music News.Archivedfrom the original on 27 June 2022.Retrieved29 May2020.
- ^"Gaby Moreno: Song for You".Today's Top Tune.KCRW.1 July 2008.Archivedfrom the original on 14 October 2012.Retrieved20 November2019.
- ^Smriti Mundhra (2 May 2011)."The Best Latin Music You Don't Know: Gaby Moreno".Latina.Archivedfrom the original on 9 December 2013.Retrieved29 May2020.
- ^Tamara Vallejos (4 December 2008)."Gaby Moreno: 'Song of You'".NPR.Archivedfrom the original on 20 July 2017.Retrieved5 April2018.
- ^"Gaby Moreno: Lady Learns The Blues, And More".All Things Considered.NPR. 1 April 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 20 July 2019.Retrieved5 April2018.
- ^Anne Hoffman (1 July 2011)."New Music From The Latin Alternative Music Conference".NPR.Archivedfrom the original on 13 December 2019.Retrieved20 November2019.
- ^Jasmine Garsd (1 August 2011)."Gaby Moreno: Tiny Desk Concert".NPR.Archivedfrom the original on 20 July 2019.Retrieved5 April2018.
- ^Le-Huu, Bao (1 October 2011)."This Little Underground".Orlando Weekly.Archivedfrom the original on 26 November 2020.Retrieved20 November2019.
- ^Pareles, Jon (8 July 2011)."Musical Ambition, Defying All Barriers".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2017.Retrieved27 February2017.
- ^Ricardo Arjona – Fuiste tú feat. Gaby Moreno (Video Oficial),archivedfrom the original on 21 October 2022,retrieved21 October2022
- ^Rachel Devitt (1 May 2011)."LATIN ROUNDUP: TOP 10 LATIN ALT ALBUMS OF SPRING 2011".Archived fromthe originalon 25 May 2012.
- ^Kristina Puga (3 December 2011)."5 Latinos to Look Out for in 2012".nbclatino.tumblr.Archivedfrom the original on 20 July 2019.Retrieved20 November2019.
- ^"Gaby Moreno – Still The Unknown".Discogs.Archivedfrom the original on 4 January 2022.Retrieved4 January2022.
- ^Gaby Moreno – A Good Old Christmastime (2010, CD),archivedfrom the original on 4 January 2022,retrieved4 January2022
- ^Gaby Moreno – Still The Unknown (2011, CD),archivedfrom the original on 4 January 2022,retrieved4 January2022
- ^"Gaby Moreno – Illustrated Songs".Discogs.Archivedfrom the original on 4 January 2022.Retrieved4 January2022.
- ^"Postales Metamorfosis".gaby-moreno.Archivedfrom the original on 4 January 2022.Retrieved4 January2022.
- ^Cantor-Navas, Judy (3 December 2014)."Gaby Moreno's 'Posada': An Instant Latin Christmas Classic".Billboard.Retrieved4 January2022.
- ^Gaby Moreno – Posada (2014, CD),archivedfrom the original on 4 January 2022,retrieved4 January2022
- ^Gaby Moreno – Illusion (2016, CD),archivedfrom the original on 4 January 2022,retrieved4 January2022
- ^Gaby Moreno & Van Dyke Parks – ¡Spangled! (2019, CD),archivedfrom the original on 4 January 2022,retrieved4 January2022
- ^Gaby MorenoatIMDb
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Gaby MorenoatAllMusic
- Gaby Morenodiscography atDiscogs
- 1981 births
- Living people
- Guatemalan guitarists
- Guatemalan women singer-songwriters
- Guatemalan singer-songwriters
- Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist
- Grammy Award winners
- Guatemalan people of Spanish descent
- 21st-century Guatemalan singers
- 21st-century women singers
- 21st-century guitarists
- Women in Latin music
- 21st-century women guitarists