Ana Cristina Cash (née Álvarez; 2 June 1985) is a Cuban-American singer-songwriter.

Ana Cristina Cash
Cash Grand Ole Opry Debut at the Ryman Auditorium (2019)
Born
Ana Cristina Álvarez

(1985-06-02) 2 June 1985 (age 38)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Alma mater
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Spouse
(m. 2016)
Children2
Musical career
Also known asAna Cristina
Genres
  • Pop
  • Country
  • Latin
  • Americana
Years active1991–present
LabelsSony Music Latin
Websiteanacristinacash.com

Early life and career beginnings edit

Ana Cristina Cash was born on 2 June 1985, in Miami, Florida and is of Cuban-American descent with ancestry from Asturias via her paternal grandmother whose parents both migrated to Cuba from Spain. Her father, Rene Álvarez, an engineer who founded and runs an air conditioner company, and her mother, Teresita Álvarez, migrated to the United States from Cuba in the early 1960s to escape Fidel Castro's Communist regime.[1] She is the youngest of three sisters.[2]

As a child she tried out for the variety show Sabado Gigante on the Univision network and landed a spot,[3][4] where she went on to appear frequently between ages six and 13,[5] becoming a champion of the show's singing contests. In middle school she would be pulled from her Catholic school classes to sing at events like weddings and funerals.[3]

Cash signed her first record deal, with Sony Music, at age 15.[3]

She attended high school at Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami, graduating in 2003,[5] and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in journalism from Florida International University[6] and a master's degree in creative writing from Harvard University.[7]

First recordings and early career edit

Her debut Spanish-language album as Ana Cristina with Sony Music's Latin division, titled Ana Cristina, was released in 2003.[8] It included the single, "A Un Paso De Mi Amor," which had been featured the previous year on the soundtrack of Telemundo Network's telenovela Vale Todo.[9] Another song from the album, ¡Vivan los niños!, was a closing theme of Televisa Network's 2002 telenovela ¡Vivan los niños!.

In 2004, Cash was selected to participate as a songwriter and performer in Festival Mundial De La Cancion ("World Festival of Song") in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as the year's sole representative from the United States, competing with her song "Cuando Menos Lo Esperas."[10]

Cash's recording of Schubert's "Ave Maria" was part of Nuestra Navidad, a 2005 Sony Music Christmas compilation album that also included Jon Secada, Celia Cruz, José Feliciano and others.[11] On 20 January 2005 she sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Constitutional Ball, part of the Second inauguration of George W. Bush.[1][12] Later that year she performed at Festival de Calle Ocho (Calle Ocho Music Festival) in Miami.[13]

The following year she performed at the White House as a part of the celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month.[14][15] Also in 2006, she released the single "You Can Change the World" as a duet with MichelAngelo. Univision used the song's bilingual counterpart, "El Mundo Puedes Cambiar," as its theme song for its FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 coverage.[16]

On 5 January 2009 she released on her own label her album Time, containing all original material, with six tracks in English and three in Spanish,[17] produced by Randy Barlow.

Career 2010s to present edit

In 2014 she recorded in Los Angeles her first English-language album, the pop/soul The West Coast Sessions, produced by Chris Price,[18] in Los Angeles. That year she moved to Nashville.

She released the album in 2015.[19] That year she performed with John Carter Cash at the Country Music Hall of Fame's album release concert for the Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats A New Music City album.[20]

After her 2016 marriage to John Carter Cash[21] she began releasing music under the name Ana Cristina Cash, beginning with the country/Americana/rockabilly release The Tough Love EP[2] in 2017, recorded at the Cash Cabin studio in Tennessee with material co-written and -produced with John Carter Cash.[22] She performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 20th Anniversary Music Master concert tribute to Johnny Cash on 21 October 2016.[23]

She recorded a full-length holiday album, My Christmas Collection, at the Cash Cabin studio. It was released in 2018. That year she provided guest vocals on heavy metal band DevilDriver's cover of "Ghost Riders in the Sky"[24] and performed at the Johnny Cash Heritage Festival.[25]

On 1 April 2019 she was a part of the Loretta Lynn birthday tribute show at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville,[26] and later that year she performed at YouTube's "Cash Fest" concert honoring Johnny Cash.[27] On 9 November 2019 she made her Grand Ole Opry debut performing her original material. Mayor Jamie Clary of Hendersonville, Tennessee, declared 9 November "Ana Cristina Cash Day."[28]

In 2019 a Spanish-language adaptation of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" co-written by Ana Cristina Cash was recorded by Los Tigres Del Norte for their prison documentary Los Tigres del Norte at Folsom Prison[29] and the accompanying Latin Grammy-winning[30] album.

She released another holiday-themed recording, a single of "Mele Kalikimaka," during the COVID-19 quarantine in 2020.[3]

Her first full-length album as Ana Cristina Cash, Shine, was released on 24 April 2020. She wrote the songs in collaboration with John Carter Cash and others, drawing from blues, rock, country and Americana. Recorded at the Cash Cabin studio, it premiered at Billboard.com and includes the track "Brand New Pair Of Shoes" with lyrics by Johnny Cash that had never before been set to music.[31] The same track was later included on an expanded edition of Forever Words, a Legacy Records album of poems and lyrics by Johnny Cash set to music by artists including Elvis Costello, Chris Cornell and Jewel.[32]

She is a graduate of Nashville's 2020 Leadership Music Class.[33]

Awards and honors edit

2019: Winner, Wildbunch Film Festival Best Actress Award for Short Film "Dragon Song" as Veronica Shamblings

2011: Winner, Miss South Florida USA[34]

2004: Norminated, Premio Lo Nuestro "Revelacion del Ano (Best New Artist of the Year)"[35]

Personal life edit

Cash married music producer John Carter Cash on October 29, 2016, in Charleston, South Carolina[36] in the French Huguenot Church.[37] Her husband is the only son of musicians Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash and grandson of the Carter Family original member Maybelle Carter. They live with their two children[38][39] in Nashville where they co-own and operate Cash Cabin Enterprises, a private recording studio.[28]

Discography edit

Album/Project Year Artist Role(s)
Johnny Cash: Forever Words Expanded 2021 Ana Cristina Cash Songwriter/Primary Artist "Brand New Pair of Shoes"
"Mele Kalikimaka" 2020 Ana Cristina Cash Primary Artist/Background Vocals
Hey Crow! 2020 The Cash Collective Lead Vocals/Background Vocals
Shine 2020 Ana Cristina Cash Primary Artist/Songwriter/Background Vocals
Across Generations: The Carter Family 2019 The Carter Family Lead Vocals/Featured Artist/Background Vocals
Los Tigres del Norte at Folsom Prison 2019 Los Tigres del Norte Liner Note Translation/Musical Adaptation "La Prisión De Folsom"
"La Prisión De Folsom" (Folsom Prison Blues) 2019 Los Tigres del Norte Musical Adaptation
Outlaws 'til the End, Vol. 1 2018 DevilDriver Guest Artist "Ghostriders in the Sky"
Johnny Cash: Forever Words 2018 Brad Paisley Background Vocals "Gold All Over the Ground"
Johnny Cash: Forever Words 2018 T Bone Burnett Background Vocals "Jellico Coal Man"
My Christmas Collection 2018 Ana Cristina Cash Primary Artist/Songwriter/Background Vocals
"Red Hot Kitchen" 2018 Ana Cristina Cash Lead Vocals/Songwriter
"We Must Believe in Magic" 2018 John Carter Cash Background Vocals
The Tough Love EP 2017 Ana Cristina Cash Primary Artist/Songwriter/Background Vocals
Turquoise Trail: Soundtrack for a Western 2017 Justin Johnson Vocals "Vaya Con Dios," "Pistolero," "Ghost Riders in the Sky"
White Christmas Blue 2016 Loretta Lynn Production Assistant
The West Coast Sessions 2015 Ana Cristina Cash Songwriter/Primary Artist/Background Vocals
Loco De Amor 2014 Juanes Background Vocals "La Luz," "Loco de Amor"
En Español 2013 Natalie Cole Background Vocals "Oye Como Va" (featuring Arthur Hanlon) [Medley]
Viver a Vida 2012 Mickael Carreira Background Vocals
Un Nuevo Dia 2011 Jencarlos Canela Background Vocals "All I Need Is Your Love"
You're Never Alone 2009 Gina Tarajano Translation/Adaptation "The Privilege to Give"
Nuestra Navidad [Sony International] 2005 Various Artists Primary Artist "Ave Maria"
Vivan Los Niños 2003 Various Artists Primary Artist "Vivan Los Niños"
Ana Cristina 2003 Ana Cristina Primary Artist
Vale Todo 2002 Various Artists Primary Artist "A Un Paso De Mi Amor"
Take Me as I Am 2002 Janet Robin Background Vocals

References edit

  1. ^ a b María José Iglesias (5 January 2022), Una española en la corte de Bush, La Opinión, retrieved 27 June 2022
  2. ^ a b Bethany Bowman (19 November 2020), Music Spotlight: Ana Cristina Cash, Bowman, retrieved 27 June 2022
  3. ^ a b c d Jacob Uitti (5 January 2022), Ana Cristina Cash Discusses Her Love For Christmas Music and "Mele Kalikimaka", American Songwriter, retrieved 27 June 2022
  4. ^ Bobby Moore (25 March 2020), Cristina Cash Talks New Album 'Shine,' Shares 'Fixed to Fall', Wide Open Country, retrieved 27 June 2022
  5. ^ a b Bobson Feldman, Kimberley (4 June 2018). "Hitting All the Right Notes: Ana Cristina (Alvarez) Cash '03". Atrium. Gulliver Preparatory School. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  6. ^ Pamela Duque (2 July 2008), Singer lives double life as a journalism student, The Beacon, retrieved 27 June 2022
  7. ^ Julia Couch (28 February 2023), CLASS, Curb College Host Grammy Winners John Carter Cash, Sarah Peasall McGuffey, Belmont University, retrieved 8 March 2023
  8. ^ Ana Cristina at AllMusic. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  9. ^ Vale Todo at AllMusic. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  10. ^ Manuel Carrasco, Entre los Favoritos del Festival Mundial de la Canción [Manuel Carrasco, Among Favorites of the World Song Festival] (in Spanish), Los 40, 26 March 2005, retrieved 27 June 2022
  11. ^ Nuestra Navidad (Sony International) at AllMusic. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  12. ^ Ana Veciana-Suarez (20 January 2005), South Florida singer lands gig of a lifetime, Miami Herald, retrieved 1 July 2022
  13. ^ Festival de la Calle Ocho de este año, La Voz Hispanic News, 21 March 2005, retrieved 28 June 2022
  14. ^ Hispanic Heritage Month, White House Archives, retrieved 27 June 2022
  15. ^ Remarks at a Reception Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, govinfo.gov, 6 October 2006, retrieved 27 June 2022
  16. ^ Univision's 2006 FIFA World Cup Closing Montage, KZhead, retrieved 27 June 2022
  17. ^ Marian Marval Díaz, Journalism major releases sophomore album, Time, The Beacon, p. 3, retrieved 5 July 2022
  18. ^ Cash Cabin Presents: Ana Cristina Carter, Bill Miller, The Ownby's and John Carter Cash, Now Playing Nashville, retrieved 27 June 2022
  19. ^ Gary Graff (21 April 2020), Ana Cristina Cash Creates a Song Out of Johnny Cash's Lyrics on New Album 'Shine': Premiere, Billboard, retrieved 27 June 2022
  20. ^ Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City: Album Release Concert, Now Playing Nashville, retrieved 27 June 2022
  21. ^ Kelsey Borresen (15 December 2016), John Carter Cash Got Married, And The Pics Are Full Of Southern Charm, HuffPost, retrieved 27 June 2022
  22. ^ Ana Cristina Cash Releases The Tough Love EP; Part I of Future LP Out this Summer, Maverick, 15 March 2017, retrieved 27 June 2022
  23. ^ Rock Hall adds performers to Johnny Cash Music Masters tribute concert, Cleveland.com, 7 October 2016, retrieved 28 June 2022
  24. ^ Gary Graff (8 July 2018), DevilDriver Taps John Carter Cash & Randy Blythe for 'Ghost Riders In The Sky' Cover: Video Premiere, Billboard, retrieved 27 June 2022
  25. ^ Stephanie Smittle (17 October 2018), Alison Krauss and Jamey Johnson headline Johnny Cash Heritage Festival this weekend in Dyess, akrtimes.com, retrieved 28 June 2022
  26. ^ Lisa Konicki (2 April 2019), Loretta Lynn Gets The Gift of Meeting Herself During Birthday Celebration, One Country, retrieved 28 June 2022
  27. ^ Jessica Nicholson (24 October 2019), Little Big Town, Midland, Judah & The Lion Sign On For YouTube's 'Cash Fest' Concert Honoring Johnny Cash, Music Row, retrieved 28 June 2022
  28. ^ a b Ana Cristina Cash to Make Grand Ole Opry Debut, Country Thang Daily, 9 November 2019, retrieved 28 June 2022
  29. ^ Leila Cobo (9 August 2019), Los Tigres del Norte Break Paradigms at Folsom Prison: Watch the Video, Billboard, retrieved 27 June 2022
  30. ^ Leila Cobo (9 August 2019), Los Tigres Del Norte Gana El Latin Grammy Por Su Álbum at Folsom Prison [Los Tigres Del Norte Won The Latin Grammy For Their Album At Folsom Prison] (in Spanish), La Radio de Chico, retrieved 27 June 2022
  31. ^ Jacob Uitti, Ana Cash Lets Her Talent 'Shine' On New Album, American Songwriter, retrieved 27 June 2022
  32. ^ Claire Shaffer (23 October 2020), Johnny Cash's 'Forever Words' Compilation Receives Deluxe Edition, Rolling Stone, retrieved 27 June 2022
  33. ^ Eric T. Parker (23 May 2019), Leadership Music Announces Class Of 2020, Music Row, retrieved 11 July 2022
  34. ^ Ana Cristina, Actress, singer-songwriter, Miss South Florida USA 2011 model, dancer., The Cuban History, 14 September 2014, retrieved 30 June 2022
  35. ^ Ricky Martin, Shakira, Thalia & Juanes Nominees For 'Premio Lo Nuestro 2004'., HispanicAd.com, 21 December 2003, retrieved 30 June 2022
  36. ^ Jessica Nicholson (19 July 2021), John Carter Cash, Wife Ana Cristina Welcome Second Child, CMT, retrieved 28 June 2022
  37. ^ Weddings: Ana Cristina Alvarez & John Carter Cash, Tennessean, 19 November 2016, retrieved 28 June 2022
  38. ^ Yvonne Juris (18 September 2017), John Carter Cash Welcomes Daughter Grace June, People, retrieved 28 June 2022
  39. ^ Abigail Adams (18 July 2021), John Carter Cash and Ana Cristina Welcome Baby No. 2 — Meet James Kristoffer!, People, retrieved 28 June 2022