One of the best things that can happen to a person is to see a dream they’ve had since they were a child, come true. But sometimes life deals us bad cards, and we have to give up on our big plans. It’s never too late to start working hard to reach our full potential and share our talents with the rest of the world. Thankfully, there are people in the world whose successes remind us that we can learn from their mistakes.
Angela Álvarez has fond memories of listening to and enjoying a wide range of music since she was a child.
Angela Álvarez is a passionate music lover, singer, and songwriter who is 95 years old but has been making and performing music for decades. But until recently, she had never been able to share her music with everyone on the planet. She finally put out her first album this year, which got her nominated for a prestigious music award. Her grandson helped a lot with getting the album ready to be sold.
Because of this, she has the record for being the oldest person to ever win a Grammy.
Álvarez finally reached her goal on November 17, 2017, when she won the “Best New Artist” award at the Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas. Before this, she had put off her goals for several years. She is tied for first place with the Mexican singer Silvana Estrada, who is only 25; she is, however, the official winner since she is the oldest in this category.
Angela had never played music for anyone other than her family and close friends until recently.
Álvarez was born in Cuba, and since she was a child, she has been very interested in music:
When I was a child, I had 2 aunts that played the piano and taught me how to sing. Whenever there was a family gathering, I was the artist — they made dresses for me, and I always liked to perform,
she recalls.
Someone told her that she should do something other than music for a living.
But even though she had always wanted to be a singer, her father strongly told her not to go into the music business. Angela, on the other hand, chose to get married and had four children afterward. She didn’t give up, though. She kept writing songs and singing them for her family and close friends.
But her grandson thought it was important for the general public to know about her work.
Even after she moved to the U.S., she still had trouble breaking into the music business because there were so many obstacles in her way. Angela’s songs were not heard until a long time later, when her grandson Carlos José Alvarez, who believed in his grandmother’s talent and helped get her album recorded, did so.
And neither of them was ready for so much success.
He said that his first goal was to keep “the legacy of our family,” so he was surprised by the huge success he has had around the world. Angela’s acceptance speech was very emotional after she found out she had won the award. In it, she talked about how “very proud” she was to be able to share her story and see how it affected other people.
There are people who give up, but I didn’t give up. I always fought,
she said.
’’I promise you, it’s never too late.’’
She also used this chance to thank her family and friends, as well as the country where she grew up. The Latin Grammy winner also spoke to “those who have not fulfilled their dream,” telling them that no matter how hard things get, there is always a way out.
I promise you, it’s never too late,
Álvarez noted in her speech.
Have you ever had to give up on a dream, but now you are doing everything you can to make that dream come true?
