SHAZAM

A direct descendent of Cuban singers Elena Burke and Marlena Burke -- her grandmother and mother, respectively -- as well as daughter of producer Rey Nerio, Lena Pérez knew from an early age that she wanted to be a musician. Born in Havana, Lena took both guitar and classical piano lessons as a child, finding that her true love lay in the latter. Also interested in voice, she perfected her skills singing backup on albums for artists like Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez, Thalía, Jaci Velasquez, Chayanne, and Alejandro Sanz. Despite her familial connections, it was meeting with the latter, however, that set her career as a singer and performer into motion. Sanz was so impressed with the songs Lena sang for him that he introduced her to the people at Warner Music Latina, who soon signed the young Cuban. In 2005 her self-titled debut came out, followed by a tour that spanned much of Latin America as well as part of Europe. ~ Marisa Brown, Rovi