SHAKIRA
Latin pop superstar Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on February 9, 1977, in the Colombian city of Barranquilla. Leaving her family at the age of 13, Shakira moved to Bogot to become a model and instead emerged with a recording contract for Sony. Her debut album Magia, released in 1991 when she was just 14, consisted entirely of self-written songs. Like its successor Peligro, the album wasn't very successful, so Shakira turned instead to acting; she appeared on the Colombian soap-opera El Oasis beginning in 1994, but returned to music the following year.
Shakira recorded Pies Descalzos in 1995, and its initial popularity appeared quite fleeting. Several months after the album's release, however, the single "Estoy Aqu" gained airplay around Latin America. It eventually hit number one on the Latin Music charts, as did its follow-up, "Dnde Ests Corazn?" Four additional singles -- "Antologa," "Pienso en Ti," "Un Poco de Amor," "Se Quiere, Se Mata" -- reached the Top Ten and Pies Descalzos hit the top spot in eight different countries, selling over four million copies. Los Dnde Estn Ladrones? followed in 1998, and in early 2000 she issued MTV Unplugged. She was on her way in becoming an international celebrity during this time, but her roots were fully rewarded when Shakira won a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Ojos As" at the first annual Latin Grammy Awards in fall 2000. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide (courtesy of getmusic.com)