Jennifer Peña

 

Jennifer Peña

Born in San Antonio and raised in Corpus Christi, native Texan Jennifer Peña started her career at the tender age of 11. This talented young lady leaped into the public’s consciousness in 1995 as one of the performers at a tribute to Selena. Performing for thousands in the Houston Astrodome, Jennifer earned immediate affection from a nation-wide audience with a voice that was both tender and soaring.

The following year, in 1996, Jennifer sang in the movie “Selena” as the young version of the superstar. Later, she released her first album titled “Dulzura” (Sweetness). This album, along with her follow ups, “Jennifer” and “Mariposa” (Butterfly), sold over 200,000 copies. Her fourth production, “Abrazame y Besame” (Hug me & Kiss me) was released in 2000 and also garnered her a Grammy nomination in the category or “Best Regional Mexican Performance”.

In 2002, Jennifer signed with Univision Music. Entitling her album “Libre” (Free), she worked with Latin music’s top producers, Emilio Estefan (Gloria Estefan), Kike Santander (Jennifer Lopez), and Rudy Perez (Michael Bolton). The first single of the album was “Vamos al Mundial” (Let’s go to the World Cup), Univision Network’s official theme song for the 2002 World Cup. This song catapulted Jennifer from the Regional Mexican genre to Pop, exposing her to newfound fans all over the world. The second single, “El Dolor de tu Presencia” (The Pain of your Presence) was #1 on Billboard for 8 consecutive weeks and the album sold more than 300,000 copies, also receiving another Grammy nomination, this time for Best Mexican/Mexican American album.

In Summer, 2004, Jennifer released her sophomore project with Univision Music, “Seduccion” (Seduction). This album was an intimate collection of power ballads and an eclectic fusion of Latin rhythms. For Jennifer, it signified a coming of age in the creative control that she had as she exuded her influence and aristic muscle in a more proactive and confident manner. The first single, “Vivo y Muero en tu Piel” (I Live and Die in your Skin) peaked at #1 for 5 consecutive weeks, the album also selling more than 300,000 units.

In 2005, ten years after her first performance at the Houston Astrodome, Jennifer returned to record “Houston Rodeo Live”, a CD/DVD/ released later that year that also reached platinum status.

2006 has brought Jennifer full circle as a performer. She landed a supporting role in the MTV/Paramount Film, “All You’ve Got” in which she plays Lettie, an energetic and smart high school student who plays a major role in uniting two rival volleyball teams by overcoming social and economic differences. She also recorded “Where will I be” for the movie’s soundtrack, a song she co-wrote with Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Obie Bermudez.

Jennifer has accomplished great milestones in her career, a few of which include performing for President Bill Clinton and President George Bush, at the inauguration ball for the governor of her home state of Texas, and at several sports events. She has also involved herself in projects with organizations such as City of Hope in awareness campaigns for Hepatitis, AIDS, and Teen Depression.

Undoubtedly, Jennifer Peña has become one of the most complete and established artists in Latin music. She is also one of the most prolific and promising young performers of today that thousand of Latino children, teenagers, and young adults consider a key role model and inspiration in their lives.