Eva Ayllón

Eva María Angélica Ayllón Urbina, known professionally as Eva Ayllón, was born on February 7, 1956 in Lima, Peru. She is a highly regarded Afro-Peruvian musician and composer. Raised by her grandmother in a traditional Lima family, she began vocal training at the age of 3 and quickly progressed to singing in school competitions, on television, on the radio, and with local music groups. Her first album, Kipus y Eva, was recorded in 1977 along with the musica criolla group Los Kipus. It was followed by a succession of releases, including albums such as Esta Noche in 1979 and Al Ritmo de Eva Ayllón in 1980. Eva Ayllón's career took a significant turn in 1979 when she began touring internationally, gaining exposure in Europe, the United States, Canada, and Japan. In 1989, she joined Los Hijos del Sol, a supergroup of Peruvian musical stars. Her first US album, Eva! Leyenda Peruana, was released in 2004, earning her the Critic's Choice Award for Best Traditional Recording in Germany. That same year, she released the career retrospective album Así Es, which included songs from across her career, such as her hit "A Que Me Muevan La Cola." Over nearly 50 years, Eva Ayllón has produced more than 30 records and received ten Latin Grammy nominations for Best Folk Album. She eventually received the Latin Grammy for Musical Excellence in recognition of her contributions to Peruvian culture. In 2019, she was awarded the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.