Puerto Rican Icon Rita Moreno to Release First Disc in Spanish
When the 83-year-old icon Rita Moreno isn't dancing up a storm with Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan in the middle of Fifth Avenue during the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, she's hitting the studio with powerhouse producer Emilio Estefan.
Talk about some spunk at 83. Ms. Moreno wouldn't have it any other way!
The grand marshal of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade who beamed with joy and pride atop a convertible car in New York City on Sunday, June 14 continues bring her energy and powerful vocal chops to the mix.
The Screen Actors Guild's Lifetime Achievement Award winner will release her first disc in Spanish called "Rita Moreno, Una Vez Mas" ("Rita Moreno, Once More") with the help of mega-producer Estefan who catapulted Miami Sound Machine and his wife, Gloria's career to superstardom.
In an earlier interview with Efe, a grateful Moreno was nostalgic about the iconic number "Preciosa" featured on a disc saying "it's from my country, from my people."
Adamant about paying homage to her homeland, she added: "I wasn't going to record a disc without singing something Puerto Rican."
"Preciosa," which is passionately and nationally recognized by the Puerto Rican community, has the expertise of composer Rafael Hernández.
As a tribute to her "West Side Story" roots, the song "Somewhere" which is featured in the film will be sung by the icon in Spanish." In 1962, Moreno became the first Hispanic woman to ever win an Academy Award, landing the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance as Anita in "West Side Story."
The disc also reportedly features "Concierto de Aranjuez," whose Spanish-language lyrics she heard for the first time vocalized by another Puerto Rican, José Feliciano.
Moreno met Estefan two-and-a-half years ago at an artist's event in what was meant to be a simple introduction that turned into a collaboration with the Grammy-winning music producer and songwriter. Moreno said Estefan took her by surprise when he said he wanted to make a disc with her.
"I said to myself 'Huh? He's not serious'" she explained to Efe. "He always tells me I'm his heroine, that I still have a pretty voice, and here I am on a disc. I'm thrilled."
Moreno is one of an impressive and elite group of EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award) winners. In addition to her Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress in "West Side Story," she won a Tony as Googie Gomez in "The Ritz," a Grammy for "The Electric Company" album, and two Emmys for appearances on "The Muppet Show" and "The Rockford Files."
More recently, she also had a major role in TV Land's "Happily Divorced" for three seasons and was the voice of Aunt Mimi in the animated film "Rio 2." She guest-starred in HBO's "Oz" and the CW hit "Jane the Virgin." Moreno is lending her voice as "Abuelita" in "Nina's World," which will premiere on Sprout in September 2015.