BIOGRAPHY
Full name: Altagracia Ugalde Mota.
(the star doesn't use her real name because she doesn't like it and prefers
to use her artistic name)
Date and place of birth: January 10 in Rio Verde, San Luis Potosi.
Color of Skin: very light
Color of hair: Dark brown with some highlights.
Color of eyes: Dark Brown
Hobby: Ride Horses
Idol: Selena, and Vicente Fernandez (who she toured on stage with)
Religion: Roman-Catholic
Political Party: "The political party is something that I was never
interested in", she says.
Marital Status: Single (but with a little ande beautiful baby named Emiliano, that is all her life)
First Kiss: In Elementary
Favorite Music: Gruperas and Rancheras
Dream to accomplish: “My dream is to fulfill because I will record an entire album in Ranchero music”.
First Appearance: "Singing backup for my sister Viviana at some gigs”.
If you weren't to be a star, what would you be? “I can't imagine myself out
of show business”.
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Brave enough to interrupt a holy mass just to sing to Pope John Paul II, Ana Barbara is a young Mexican that gives her all in what she wants in life: sing the rest of her life!
Since she was small she showed interest for music, her childhood turned her into the normal girl, who plays, and does their school work. Her favorite thing to do was accompany her sister Viviana, who now manages her, and goes with her to her shows and gigs. Ana Barbara fell in love with the stage while she sang backup for her sister Viviana at the age of 8. Ana says that she loved the light effects, claps, and trips. But she had to wait a long time before what she'd always dream of, would come true.
Later on, receiving support from her family, Ana Barbara got in a children singing contest and won 1st place.
She comments: "At that time, I was too traumatized because I was too tall and skinny, but when I turned 17, I began to "grow" and that helped me feel secure of myself."
Ana Barbara, after representing her native state as "Miss San Luis Potosi" in Mexico's beauty pageant, saw the music segments ECO would have, to then go to an audition.
After she realized she wanted to sing professionally, she flew to Mexico City alone and started from scrap, working with Pepe Jara, only earning enough to eat.
Ana worked in many other places, before her big break which came in 1993.
After winning most beautiful in San Luis, and winning many contests, Ana felt desperate and alone because her big break was not showing up. But later in 1993, she was named "Embajadora del la canción Ranchera" and also won "Rostro del Heraldo." This is what led her to see and sing to the Pope John Paul the II.
During the holy mass, Ana was promised to sing to the Pope before the mass ended, but when she saw that it was about to end she said "Oh no, I didn't come all the way to Rome just to sit here" So she got up and interrupted the entire mass and started to sing. The Pope later on thanked her and gave her his blessings wishing her the best.
In 1994, Ana Barbara was singed to Fonovisa, and they launched her first self titled album: Ana Barbara. The director was Anibal Pastor, and he brought Ana success from one night to the next morning. The first single was "Nada," and it hold on strong in the charts for many weeks. After the released of "Sacudeme," she was named a true promise to Grupero Music.
Due to the great acceptance of the fans, Ana was invited to gigs and shows with some very famous acts like: Bronco, Los Tigres Del Norte, Marco Antonio Solis y Los Bukis, and Vicente Fernandez.
With her first production, Ana reached the following accomplishments:
* Gold album in Bolivia
* Heraldo Award as "Best New Artist"(1994)
* Furia Musical Award for "Best New Artist"(1994)
* Premio “Lo Nuestro” Nominations.
In 1995, the sexy singer initiated her fame to other countries including United States, North and South America, accomplishing more success and fame.
In June of that same year, Ana Barbara launches her second Album, "La Trampa" who is also directed by Anibal Pastor, and the first single La Trampa, turned out to be one of the peoples favorites. Once again, Ana shows her ability and strength to sing and dance with this album.
With the experience accumulated by the years Ana Barbara releases her third album titled "Ay, Amor." produced by Jorge Avendano. In this album, the two singles that stand out the most are "Ya no te creo nada" and "No llorare," which went to number one on the charts. With this album, she really shows her ability to sing from the heart and also bring a good beat to the music. A true modern woman.
At the begging of 1998, Ana Barbara presented us her new production titled "Los Besos No Se Dan En La Camisa" who's first single rips the charts apart, being 18 weeks at number one with "Como Me Haces Falta". Truly expresses herself vocally on a great ballad song. Maintains a strong popularity across the world, almost.
She is invited to the Festival De La Calle 8 for the 3rd time, and is named queen of that years event. Ana also wins Favorite Female Vocalist at the Premios "Lo Nuestro” in that same year.
In March of 1998, she initiates her tour around South America and Bolivia. She was also invited by the president of Bolivia to the celebration of the city's 500 birthday and gives a Mega-Concert in front of more than One Hundred Twenty-Thousand screaming fans. She was also named Favorite International Artist by Bolivia.
On the other hand, her Beer commercials for Coors Light bring the company bigger sales and she is invited by them to give a concert along with Bobby Pulido.
In october of 1999 Ana releases one of her best albums yet,” Tu Decision”, whose first single won her many awards and nominations, including Favorite Female by Premios Heraldo, and a Grammy Award nomination for the first ever Latin Grammy awards.
Ana also made a movie called Todo Contigo for Univision, that was premiered the last year . Today, Ana Barbara is too and excelent mother for her baby Emiliano and that have his third birthday in these days of november Congratulations Emiliano!.
Emiliano and her family have been her only consolation in moments as the recent death of her sister Marissa that died in a car accident in October 22th, 2001.+ Rest in peace Marissa Ugalde Motta (1975-2001)+
But return to her musical career as we commented the last time she had from many years ago teh mood of record a disk with mariachis, and inclusive as you remember she starts her career with this kind of music but the circumstancies in that time not was the best for she could record a disk with Mariachi and is in this moment that she make her dream come to reality and comply a promise that she made to her father.
There are a few times when Ana sings ranchero music at her concerts, but never an entire album. She has also recorded some of her own songs in Ranchero version like Enganada, which you can also find as a Dance Remix.
In 2001, after a short break due to a maternity leave, the hot talented and
sensual Ana Barbara marked her triumphant return to the entertainment world
with "Te Regalo La Lluvia" from her label Fonovisa, from which she conquested
the die hard ranchera fans.
With "Te regalo la lluvia" her former album, she attained the rightful name
she's been known in, singing Regional Mexican music; the queen of "Grupero."
Even two months before giving birth to her son Emiliano, Ana Barbara performed
on stage enjoying herself and entertaining fans. After becoming a mom for the
first time, she concentrated in the process of recording and selecting the
right songs for her album, which was one of the best recordings of the last
years.
"Eso No Es De Hombres", "Te regalo la lluvia" and others were in the first
rate throughout the principal radio stations across the nations of Mexico and
USA principally but the disc was very popular across the world.
En 2003 with "Te atraparé...Bandido" and his new single "Bandido" Ana Bárbara reaffirmed that she is the one and only "Reina Grupera" and this 2004-2005 with "Loca de Amar" she will reaffirms again.