Veronica Vasquez, mononymously known to listeners as Veronica, was born on July 24th 1974 in Queens, New York to two Cuban parents. Debuting in 1995 with the single “Without Love”, a slow-mo R&B number released via Mercury Records, the young singer went on to release her first album, V… As In Veronica, just two months later. The LP drew clear influences from hip-hop and included productions from R&B heavyweights Darkchild and Dallas Austin. While it failed to enter the Billboard 200, Veronica would enjoy a greater commercial performance with her 1997 follow-up, Rise. The album’s lead single, “No One But You”, featured guest vocals from Bad Boy Records affiliate Craig Mack, and its title track saw her team up with Terror Squad members Big Pun and Cuban Link. However, despite her grounding in hip-hop, it would be house music which propelled her into the spotlight. A self-titled remix album, consisting of eight dance reinterpretations of tracks from Rise, landed in 2000 as one of the first releases on producer Jellybean Benitez’ label, Jellybean Recordings. DJ/producer Johnny Vicious’ club-ready repurposing of “Let Me Go… Release Me” topped the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart, and subsequent remixes of “Someone to Hold” and “I’m in Love” – the latter a cover of the Evelyn “Champagne” King song of the same name – both entered the chart’s top ten, too. Amassing a loyal following among gay fans, she took a brief break from the club scene to star in the musical Selena Forever before returning with a new dance single in 2006 entitled “Relentless… Just a Game”.
