photo of Raquela
Raquela is an American Dance-pop, House music and Hi-NRG singer/songwriter, assistant producer and actress. She successfully released dance tracks that have made her a recognized Billboard artist today. Raquela began fascinating the audience since she was 7 years old. At 9 she began performing professionally on stage. She was 12 when she wrote and performed her first original folk/contemporary/pop song on guitar. Her proud beginnings started off in a small cowboy town called Elk Grove, (Northern California) where, at the time, Mexican Americans were not so commonly accepted into theatre. Despite those obstacles, she was still awarded scholarships that

allowed her to take off for Los Angeles. There she studied Voice, Music and Musical Theatre. She was later endorsed into two California Proclamations by Senator Diane Feinstein for her civil duties as the 1st Mexican American crowned, "Miss Orange County". After winning several more vocal competitions and earning many nominations for 'Best Actress' throughout the country, she eventually found herself on Broadway where she appeared on some of the world's largest stages.

Her stage name, "RAQUELA", evolved while working in New York City. She struggled just to get people to remember her name, much less spell it. Her inter-racial appearance often confused many. (Even casting directors.) She promised that the next time someone called her "Mrs. Burt", she would drop her last name. And in 1999, she did just that. When Raquela was asked about her musical influences, she quickly replied, "Oh everyone in my life has inspired me in my music. Even my high school drafting teacher! But I'll tell you this, the first time I heard my favorite Pop star and Broadway actress release a disco track together, my life changed!" She was speaking of course, about Donna Summer and Barbara Streisand. In her younger years, opera stars like mezzo-soprano Jessye Norman, made an impact on her earliest vocal techniques. On a theatrical approach, surprisingly it was Rock stars like Styx, Rush, Supertramp, ELO, Pink Floyd and Annie Lennox who would begin a profound power over Raquela's writing style. Later it was dance artists like Madonna, New Order, Aqua, Deee-Lite and American New Wave group, the B-52's. To her, it was the German Euro-trance band, 'Groove Coverage' that was the closet to writing anything 'theatrically' than any other dance group before herself.

"Before Lady GaGa, there was, and still is… RAQUELA"

RAQUELA, actually began her dance industry career in 1999 with the release of her award winning work, "Raquela and The Confession's of the Disco Diva" (www.angelfire.com/oz/raquii/raquelainkedreview) The project began in 1995. At the time, it could only be known as "Musical Electronica" or "Theatrical Electronica". Raquela's ridiculous costumes and wigs, along with her outrageous themes, lyrics, addictive melodies and over-the-top performances, became an overnight "talk of the town"! Her first performance was recorded on September 1st, 2001. It was witnessed by a local paper and a massive outdoor audience at a fair called the Sacramento Rainbow Festival. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QukAPQhf24) At first, nobody was sure what to make of it, but before Raquela could finish, the applause was instantaneous. In 2003, Raquela even wrote a full, 2 Act, Electronic Dance Musical called, "Confession's of the Disco Diva". (Written in collaboration with Author/Writer, M. Saylor Billings) But unfortunately, it never got picked up. But by 2008, new recording artists began popping up everywhere, taking on to the idea as well, ultimately crowning Raquela as "Queen" of Theatrical Dance/Pop!.

After that, RAQUELA continued on playing an even larger role in the Dance Music community. For two consecutive week's straight and after thousands of entries, Raquela and D'Sential's award winning Theatrical Dance track, "YOU'RE GONE" hit "Number 1" on the Dance chart at imgifted.co.uk. But on Broadjam.com she hit the "Top 10 Dance" chart for 6 weeks straight with Les Gutaless', "THE FIRE"! To this day, Raquela and Supergroove's 2005 release of the Theatrical Dance track, "Balearic Phonk" continues to receive raving reviews!

RAQUELA's powerhouse vocals has gotten her seen opening for legendary Dance artists like Judy Torres, George Lamond and Grammy award winner, Little Louie Vega.

RAQUELA's unique vocal style and song writing skills have been showcased on many releases, including producers', Chris 'The Greek' Panaghi's , "FALLING" who is known for producing and remixing the likes of Gloria Estefan, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion and many more. Following the release of "THIS FIRE OF YOURS", she and Chris reached the 1 spot on the 'Dance Masters World Chart'.

RAQUELA would later team up with world renowned producer and legendary House DJ, MICKEY Mixin' OLIVER! This original HOT MIX 5 artist was recently listed in The London Observer as one of the "10 most Influential DJ's of all time". If you were in downtown Chicago, you would find streets named after him near Michigan and Balbo. Mickey's release of, "NOTHIN' MORE 2 GIVE" received Billboard Magazine's best "Break-Out" for Hot New Club Play.

Today, as a proud voting member of the Grammy's, RAQUELA is releasing the remake of Taylor Dayne's, "TELL IT TO MY HEART" on ISV Entertainment!

www.Raquela.com

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