Eva Ayllón

Eva Ayllón
Eva Ayllón at The Sydney Opera House September 25, 2010
Background information
Birth name	María Angélica Ayllón Urbina
Born	(1956-02-07) February 7, 1956 (age 61)
Origin	Lima, Peru
Genres	Música criolla
Occupation(s)	Singer
Website	www.evaayllon.net

Eva Ayllón (born February 7, 1956 as María Angélica Ayllón Urbina), a composer and singer, is one of Peru's foremost Afro-Peruvian musicians, and one of the country's most enduring living legends. She holds the record for most nominations without a win with six for the Latin Grammy Award for Best Folk Album.

Ayllón adopted the stage name "Eva" from her maternal grandmother, Eva, who initiated her in vocalization at the age of three. As a child and teen, Eva Ayllón sang in school competitions and later on television and radio. Throughout the early 1970s, Eva appeared in many música criolla musical groups (locally called "peñas criollas") such as Rinconcito Monsefuano, La peña de los Ugarte, Los Mundialistas o Callejón and Los Kipus. Ayllón sang as the lead voice in this popular trio from 1973 through 1975, eventually leaving the group to pursue a solo career. By 1979, she began touring internationally, with appearances in Europe, the United States, Canada, and Japan and since then her music and live performances are requested on a yearly basis at international music events. In 1989, Ayllón was invited to join Los Hijos del Sol (Children of the Sun), a supergroup made up of Peruvian musical stars, developed by producer Ricardo Ghibellini in an effort to promote Peruvian music through performance and recording.

Ayllón released her first US album, Eva! Leyenda Peruana, on Times Square Records in 2004. Since then, Ayllón's musical presence continues to expand boundaries. In her commitment to broaden the awareness of Afro-Peruvian culture, Ayllón changed her residence from Lima, Peru to New Jersey that same year. Leyenda Peruana gained praise and recognition in different latitudes, and in Germany it received the Critic's choice award for Best Traditional Recording. The group is about to embark on another US and European tour to introduce new cities and new countries to Ayllon's music.

In January 2007, Ayllón was honored with a seat among the judges at Latin America's largest music festival,The Chilean "Festival De Viña del Mar". In April, Ayllón released a live concert DVD recording titled Live from Hollywood.

Ayllón has produced over 20 records, and nominated six times to the Latin Grammy. Her latest release "Eva Ayllon Celebra 40 Años Cantandole Al Peru", is a compilation of her greatest hits, and revisits the musical styles that she has performed over the last four decades. In 2008 she performed at a sold out Carnegie Hall on November 8 in New York.