Pop star Gloria Trevi, rapper Kat Dahlia, soulful songstress La Marisoul and bachata sensation Leslie Grace will appear live on stage together at the 25th annual Billboard Latin Music Conference.
The conference, presented by State Farm, will feature the entertainers on April 23 during the annual Divas Panel, which will highlight the thriving careers of each artist in candid conversations about their music, the business and navigating the fast-changing industry.
“Gloria Trevi, Kat Dahlia, La Marisoul and Leslie Grace illustrate that integrity and artistry in the music business is alive and thriving,” says Justino Aguila, Billboard’s Associate Editor of Latin/Special Features and the panel’s moderator. “As artists and businesswomen they have shown to be leaders of their craft in careers that show innovativeness, ingenuity and unparalleled tenacity.”
Trevi, a Billboard Latin Music Awards winner, is one of the leading pop vocalists and songwriters in the genre with a career spanning nearly 25 years. The multi-talented artist has edited 13 albums, has written over 400 songs and has toured the world with a catalog of music that puts her in a league of her own. The singer’s current album and tour, “De Pelicula,” features new music from the entertainer who in 2013 made her return to television with the Mexican soap opera “Libre Para Amarte,” or “Free to Love You.” It was that same year that the Mexican-born singer launched her own fragrance, Rosa Blu, and was named one of the most powerful women in Mexico by Forbes magazine.
Dahlia, whose versatile repertoire includes pop, Latin, hip-hip and reggae, continues to rise in the music business. Her critically acclaimed single “Gangsta” is approaching 10 million views on VEVO. Her debut album, “My Garden,” is scheduled for release later this year under Vested in Culture/Epic Records and will feature “Tumbao,” “Money Party” and the most recent single, “Crazy.”
Marisol “La Marisoul” Hernandez, lead vocalist of the Grammy-winning Latin alternative group La Santa Cecilia, has become one of the most celebrated artists thanks to the power of her commanding voice. The band’s previous album, 30 Dias, has been embraced globally by fans including English singer/songwriter Elvis Costello, who last year appeared in a duet with Hernandez for the song “Losing Game.” This week the L.A.-based group is celebrating their latest work with a new release, Someday New, which includes “Cumbia Morada,” “El Hielo,” and the Beatles classic “Strawberry Fields Forever.”
Leslie Grace, who is currently a finalist for two Billboard Latin Music Awards, is only 17, but has proven to be musically mature beyond her years thanks to her strong vocal ability. Her bachata-inspired and bilingual version of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” reached the top position on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart and made the singer the youngest Latin female artist to earn that position. Currently, the singer’s self-titled album has added to her climb in music with more on the way as a finalist of the Billboard Latin Music Awards in competition for Artist of the Year, New; and Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female.
The Billboard Latin Music Conference is the longest-running event in the world dedicated to Latin music, drawing hundreds of industry executives, top Latin music artists, leading brand marketers, national radio programmers, prominent producers, and many more for four days of provocative presentations and panel discussions, exclusive Q&As, compelling case studies, cutting-edge artist showcases, and exclusive networking events.
The Conference culminates with the Billboard Latin Music Awards, a three-hour multi-million dollar production that will broadcast live on Telemundo Thursday, April 24 at 8PM (7PM Central). The awards honor the biggest music stars based on Billboard’s weekly charts, and features performances by top artists across all genres of Latin music. For more information about the 2014 Billboard Latin Music Conference, go to BillboardLatinConference.com.
