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A young, tender country girl in South America growing up with the children of the American oil workers...
this is the how the life story begins that over the years grew Linda Bandry to become “The Latin Voice of Country Music.” Being raised with the American families Linda began learning English early, and along with many of their customs, she developed a passionate love for their country music. “Until I was 16 years old I didn’t listen to any other kind of music. I would wake in the morning to the roosters crowing and the beautiful country music melodies.” Her father, Elias Bandry, was fascinated with the music he heard his daughter listening to and one day asked her to make Spanish versions of his favorite songs so that he could understand them. Not long after Linda began translating them for her father, she realized that she could write her own country songs and her Dad loved hearing her sing them. At just 8 years old Linda joined five other girls in a singing group called “Super Youngs”. They sang Linda’s songs and even some of Dolly Parton’s and Kenny Rogers’ songs everywhere and anywhere they could.
At 15 years old Linda joined another female vocal group called “Primavera” (Springtime) as the lead singer. There she came into her own as a vocalist and people started calling her “LA IMPORTADA” (The Foreign Girl) because she sang in English as well as Spanish, very often in the same song. Only a year later at the age of 16 she records her first Album of original songs "Como La Lluvia". Linda wrote the songs expecting to record a traditional country album in Spanish, but she soon found that no one in the South America Music Industry was familiar enough with the genre. Despite Linda’s long hours with the producer, arranger and musicians trying to explain the country music sound, the album turned out to be more pop. Linda’s music ability was instantly recognized with critical acclaim and six music awards, four for best new talent. At this time, Linda also began writing songs for some of the most popular Latin artists to record on their albums. Although Linda continued to study music theory and composition at the Music Conservatory, her College studies in Law School prevented her from performing regularly.
Linda’s father always remained her biggest fan and supporter, and he always wanted Linda to record the country album in Spanish the way she had imagined it to be. He died unexpectedly while Linda was just finishing college. Almost immediately after his death, Linda moved to the United States to fulfill the dream they shared together. With God’s grace, the help and support of family and friends, the dream came true with the release of “Como Luna” an album of Linda’s Original country songs sung in Spanish.
Only those who live and love Country Music can actually convey the nuances specific to the music. By releasing this country record in Spanish I feel that I am paying homage to this great country as well as to my father. I would like for the whole world to know and dance to this music because I feel that it symbolizes peace, unity and the moral values that were taught by my father, but sometimes forgotten today. Country Music is more than just line dancing in tight jeans or going to the rodeo. To me, it’s an expression of a people and culture that refuses to settle for, good enough.Linda and the album “Como Luna” were acknowledged by NARAS for the 46th Annual Grammy Awards as one of the 50 Best Female Vocalists and the album as one of the Best Country Albums of the Year. Linda was also nominated for “REVELACION DEL AÑO” (Best New Artist of the year) for the famous Spanish Music Awards Show “EL PREMIO LO NUESTRO” where she was placed in the POP category because as of that time, there was no category for Country Music in Spanish, or as Linda calls it, Latin Country Music.
- Linda Bandry
Linda and her music have been broadcasted throughout the Hispanic and American Television, such as: UNIVISION, TELEFUTURA, TELEMUNDO, CHANNEL 41, CHANNEL 4, TELEMIAMI and many others where she has been named the “Latin Voice of Country Music”. Her conviction has made it possible for fans throughout the Americas and Spain to open their hearts to Country Music. Together with family and friends in the Music Industry, she has a great team of people who share her conviction and are working harder to open more hearts to country music with the release of her newest album in January 2010.
“Music is a universal language and a very powerful means of uniting everyone together”e!. Linda Bandry
