Colección De Oro, Vol. 3

Mexican native Zayda began singing at a very young age, getting involved in traditional Mexican music while attending middle school. Born Zayda Pena, she debuted in 1995 with an independent album called Enamorada. After joining a band called Los Culpables, she moved to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, to make her following record. Zayda y los Culpables, issued in 1997, featured the hit singles "Tiro de Gracia" and "Sola." After releasing Atrevete, Zayda turned to the ranchera style, making an album called Estoy Enamorada that was produced by Cuitlàhuac Delgado. Atrevete featured songs from prominent Latin composers, with arrangements by Manuel Cázares, Javier Castillo, and Carlos Martínez. She continued recording with Balboa and Musart until 2007, when she became one of the victims of a wave of violence in the Mexican music scene. First shot in a Matamoros hotel room, she was killed with more gunshots just hours later while recovering in the hospital. ~ Drago Bonacich