Miguel Silva
Miguel Silva may refer to
- Miguel Silva (footballer, born April 1995), Portuguese footballer
- Miguel Silva (footballer, born December 1995), Portuguese footballer
- Miguel Silva (Venezuelan footballer) (born 2000), Venezuelan footballer
Soraya
Soraya Raquel Lamilla Cuevas (March 11, 1969 – May 10, 2006) was an American-Colombian singer/songwriter, guitarist, arranger, record producer.
A successful Colombian music star, on Billboard's Latin Pop Airplay charts, she has two number-one songs. She earned a 2004 Latin Grammy Award for "Best Album by Songwriter" for the self-titled Soraya album she produced and was nominated for "Female Pop Vocal Album" for her album El Otro Lado de Mi in 2005. (literally "The Other Side of Me").
She was the 2005 Billboard Latin Music Awards opening act. Her career spanned ten years, recording five albums.
Soraya died May 10, 2006 after a protracted struggle against breast cancer.
Biography
Early life
Soraya Raquel Lamilla Cuevas was born a year after her father, mother, and brother relocated from their native Colombia to the United States. The family travelled back to Colombia as a newborn, but when Soraya was eight, they returned to New Jersey. "Soraya," a common name in the Middle East, can be interpreted as "Pleiades." Maternal relatives of Soraya were Christians from Lebanon to Colombia. Colombia's mother, Yamila Cuevas Gharib, was a housewife. Soraya's father, Gregorio Lamilla, worked for Colombia's exporting corporation. In the U.S., family life was stressful, so he worked three or four jobs to meet ends.
At age 5, Soraya grew interested in music when she heard her uncle playing music in Colombia. He played "Pueblito Viejo," a traditional Colombian folk song utilising an instrument called the tiple, a triple string guitar. Her parents got her a guitar she taught to play. Her first public performance was at Carnegie Hall in New York City as a member of the N.Y.C. Youth Philharmonic. She was a valedictorian at Point Pleasant Boro High School, when she began writing her own music.
Soraya was 12 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, 18 when she had a recurrence, and 22 when she died in 1992. Soraya stated her sense of responsibility rose because she needed to look after her mother and handle all household tasks. She would also join her mother to the doctor's office, researching breast cancer together and participating in the Cure Race.
Soraya attended New Jersey's Rutgers University, studying English literature, French philosophy, and women's studies. She initially thought that she might be too bashful to play before larger crowds, but she soon won over her nervousness and found her enormous potential as a live musician when she played at coffee houses and rallies throughout the enormous Rutgers campus to rapt audiences. She began her music career as a flight attendant.
Musical career
Soraya got a record contract with Polygram Records/Island Records in 1994. Her first album, released in English and Spanish two years later, was titled On nights like this/En esta noche. Both versions gained significant critical praise and allowed her to tour the U.S., Latin America and Europe as a guest performer for bands including Natalie Merchant, Zucchero, Sting, Michael Bolton and Alanis Morissette.
Her songs soared to the top of Latin American, European, and U.S. Hispanic charts. Her first hit, "Suddenly/De Repente," reached #1 in Billboard Latin Pop charts, with some mainstream adult contemporary radio in the English version. Her second album, Torre de marfil/Wall of smiles, was released in late 1997 and helped her achieve worldwide notoriety after a song co-written with her idol Carole King.
Soraya was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer in 200, shortly after releasing her third album, Cuerpo y alma / I'm yours, only days before she was going to tour and promote it. She spent time off fighting illness.
Soraya returned to the music industry in 2003 with the release of her fourth and self-titled album, Soraya. Songs highlighted her challenges, views and life love. She authored, produced and arranged the Latin Grammy CD for "Best Album by a Singer-Songwriter."
She created another hit album, El otro lado de mÃ, before she died in 2006.
Death
On May 10, 2006, 37, Soraya died of breast cancer in Miami, Florida. She was originally diagnosed at age 31 in 2000 after noticing a lump during a routine self-examination. At stage III, she was diagnosed with double mastectomy and breast reconstruction, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Soraya lost her mother, grandmother, and maternal aunt to breast cancer.
Breast cancer advocate
Soraya supported and educated breast cancer, especially for Hispanic women. She became the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's first Latin spokeswoman, touring the Americas to promote awareness. She took her music career sabbatical throughout September and October to focus on awareness of breast cancer.
Soraya penned and released "No one else/Por ser quien yo," a song that recounts her struggle in combating breast cancer. Both tracks can be downloaded on her website. All profits help Susan G. Komen Foundation.
"I know there are many unanswered questions that hope doesn't leave with me, and above all that my mission doesn't finish with my physical tale," were Soraya's last comments to her admirers and media before her death.
Discography
Studio albums
- En Esta Noche / On Nights Like This (1996)
- Torre de Marfil / Wall of Smiles (1997)
- Cuerpo y Alma / I'm Yours (2000)
- Soraya (2003)
- El Otro Lado de Mi (2005)
Compilations
- (1996) Sálvame/Save Me Tributo A Queen: Los Más Grandes Del Rock En Español
- (1998) Todo Lo Que Él Hace (Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic) on Outlandos D'Americas
- (2001) Desert Roses and Arabian Rhythms, Vol. 1
- (2001) Serie 32
- (2003) Essentiales (The Ultimate Collection)
- (2005) Éxitos Eternos
- (2005) The Best of Soraya (20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection)
- (2005) Dreaming of you with Barrio Boyzz, Selena Vive! (Tribute to Selena)
- (2006) Gold (2-CD best-of)
- (2006) Herencia
- (2006) Entre Su Ritmo y El Silencio
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