UNION CITY – Latin Grammy winner, singer and pianist Lena Burke will present an intimate concert at the Ida Art Gallery on Sunday, Aug. 3 at 5 p.m.
A direct descendent of Cuban singers Elena Burke and Marlena Burke — her grandmother and mother, respectively — as well as daughter of producer Rey Nerio, Lena Pérez knew from an early age that she wanted to be a musician. Born in Havana, Lena took both guitar and classical piano lessons as a child, finding that her true love lay in the latter. She perfected her vocal skills singing backup on albums for artists like Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez, Thalía, Jaci Velasquez, Chayanne, and Alejandro Sanz. It was meeting with the latter that set her career as a singer and performer into motion. Sanz was so impressed with the songs Lena sang for him that he introduced her to the people at Warner Music Latina, who soon signed the young Cuban. In 2005 her self-titled debut came out, followed by a tour that spanned much of Latin America, as well as part of Europe. A few years later she starred in La Mala, a biopic of legendary Cuban singer La Lupe, for which she also recorded all the songs. A soundtrack album was released in 2008. In 2010 she teamed up with Spanish singer Alex Ubago and Colombian Jorge Villamizar, formerly of Bacilos, for the project Alex, Jorge y Lena.
Donation $35 includes refreshments. Space is limited. To purchase tickets call (201) 304-1743 or e-mail efca@verizon.com or jfmusica@gmail.com. The Ida Art Gallery is at 509 43rd St.
An intimate concert with Lena Burke on Aug. 3
