View source for Maria D'Luz

{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Maria D'Luz
| image           = MariaD'Luz.jpg
| birth_name      = Dulce María González Aldaz
| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1986|8|05}}
| alias           = Dulce Maria Gonzalez, Dulce Aldaz
| birth_place     = [[Matamoros, Tamaulipas]] Mexico
| genre           = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[Latin music (genre)|Latin]], [[Tejano music|tejano]], [[Mexican cumbia]], [[R&B]], [[jazz]]
| occupation      = Singer, songwriter, musician
| instrument      = Vocals, piano
| years_active    = 1991–present
| label           = Independent, Maple Music Chords (BMI)
| associated_acts = Dulce y Sol Latino, Mario y Maria
| website         = {{URL|www.mariadluz.com}}
}}
'''Maria D'Luz''' (born '''Dulce María González Aldaz'''; August 5, 1986) is a Mexican-American singer and songwriter.
==Career==
She was raised in [[Brownsville, Texas]], where she began playing piano before her fourth birthday. She performed with her sisters in a children's educational, bilingual, and musical TV show,<ref>{{cite web| title = Televisa| url =http://www.televisa.com/programas/tv-abierta-local/noreste/?country_code=US|access-date=8 March 2012}}</ref> "Cantos y Cuentos Con Ani", which ranked number one in its Saturday morning time slot.<ref>{{cite news| last1 = Guajardo |first1=Marcial|title=Brownsville Herald News Article|url=http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_f5a45d0f-7b6b-5c9e-a626-bb663c2581d5.html|access-date=2 March 2015|publisher=Brownsville Herald|date=July 5, 1995}}</ref>
Later, she continued classical piano studies that evolved into [[jazz]], vocal performance, and [[flamenco]] dancing. At age 9 she participated in "Juguemos A Cantar" (a National Singing Contest in Mexico by Televisa) in the program "Siempre En Domingo" with Raul Velasco, representing the states of Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosí in Mexico.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Guajardo|first1=Marcial|title=Local girl sings in Mexico City for finals of national contest | url = http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_052384cc-d3e5-52cf-a53c-b16198f67a1a.html?mode=jqm|access-date=3 March 2015| publisher=The Brownsville Herald|date=July 12, 1995}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Guajardo|first1=Marcial|title=Talented tot headed to Mexico City contest|url=http://mariadluz.com/juguemos-cantar/|access-date=3 March 2015|publisher=The Brownsville Herald|date=April 19, 1995|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402133925/http://mariadluz.com/juguemos-cantar/|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> At age 14, she performed with her band "Dulce y Sol Latino" at The Millennium Stage at [[John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts]] in Washington, D.C., for being the winner of "Hollywood 2000" Texas Talent Showcase BSPA in Brownsville, TX.,<ref>{{cite web|title=The Kennedy Center Performance Link|url=https://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/artists/?entity_id=10128&source_type=B|website=www.kennedy-center.org|access-date=3 March 2015|location=Washington, D.C.|date=September 22, 2000|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203160415/http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/artists/?entity_id=10128&source_type=B|archive-date=3 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Moreno|first1=Mary|title=Brownsville goes Hollywood Hollywood reps on crusade to promote Hispanic talent|url=http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_6bfc356d-0ed9-582c-bc22-721f44d086d1.html|access-date=3 March 2015|publisher=The Brownsville Herald|date=January 9, 2000}}</ref> chosen by judges: Sam Riddle "Star Search", Helen Hernandez "The Imagen Foundation" and Yvonne Vega from [[Paramount Pictures]].
At the age of 15, D'Luz wrote her first song titled "What Is Wrong With The World" which later became part of her first album, "Just Notes", an 11 track CD, all written and composed by D'Luz herself, and was released on August 4, 2007. As a songwriter, she has written "Falsa Felicidad",<ref>{{cite web|title=Falsa Felicidad|website=[[AllMusic]] |url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/falsa-felicidad-t14988744}}</ref> recorded by Jimmy Gonzalez y el Grupo Mazz, in the album: La Leyenda Continua, [[Billboard Charts]]<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Leyenda Continua Billboard|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/album/jimmy-gonzalez-y-el-grupo-mazz/legend-continues-la-leyenda-continuacion/1190978|access-date=8 March 2012}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> - Latin Album #37, receiving a [[Latin Grammy]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Latin Grammy|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/latin/search?artist=jimmy+gonzalez|access-date=8 March 2012}}</ref> for Best Tejano Album in 2008. Shortly after, she releases the [[Hillary Clinton]] campaign song "We Need A Woman" and accepts an interview by Soledad O'Brien from [[CNN]].<ref>{{cite web|title=We Need A Woman|date=23 June 2008 |url=http://latinalista.com/2008/06/young_singer_moves_past_political_fallou|access-date=8 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=CNN interview|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0802/29/se.02.html|access-date=8 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Don't stop singing about tomorrow|url=http://www.postbulletin.com/don-t-stop-singing-about-tomorrow/article_47318cb5-06bf-5322-8e15-2e5c7cd2af9c.html|access-date=3 March 2015|agency=Associated Press|date=May 17, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Tillman|first1=Laura|title="We Need A Woman" - Political pop song written for candidate Clinton|url=http://mariadluz.com/need-woman-hillary-clinton-campaign/|access-date=3 March 2015|publisher=The Brownsville Herald|date=February 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091843/http://mariadluz.com/need-woman-hillary-clinton-campaign/|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2008, [[Objetivo Fama]] [[Univision]] Online announced D'Luz the winner of a 2009 [[Pontiac Vibe]] for obtaining the highest number of online votes for her arrangement and video version of "Hasta Que Me Olvides".<ref>{{cite web|title=Objectivo Fama Online Winner 2008|url=http://mariadluz.com/objetivo-fama-online-winner/|website=Maria D'Luz|access-date=3 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402101439/http://mariadluz.com/objetivo-fama-online-winner/|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The John Lennon Songwriting Contest, a prestigious international competition for songwriters, awarded D'Luz in the Latin category as a finalist for bossa-nova ballad "Lo Solucionare" and an Honorable Mention for Latin-pop tune "No Te Vi" in 2006.,<ref>{{cite web|title=John Lennon Songwriting Contest 2006 Finalists|url=http://jlsc.com/winners/2006b/finalists.php|website=JLSC|access-date=3 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=John Lennon Songwriting Contest Honorable Mention 2006|url=http://jlsc.com/winners/2006b/hms.php|website=JLSC|access-date=3 March 2015}}</ref> 1st finalist with "Podria Ser Un Angel" in 2012<ref>{{cite web|title=John Lennon Songwriting Contest 2012 Finalist|url=http://jlsc.com/winners/2012a/finalists.php|website=JLSC|access-date=3 March 2015}}</ref> and later that year, a finalist for pop tune, "Es".
D'Luz joined the Hermes Music Foundation early 2010, and was invited to join the "Proyecto De Amor - Claro Que Se Puede" CD to benefit Hermes Music Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Proyecto de Amor|url=http://www.fundacionhermesmusic.org/sitio/sitio/noticia.php?id=84|access-date=8 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406002814/http://www.fundacionhermesmusic.org/sitio/sitio/noticia.php?id=84|archive-date=6 April 2011}}</ref> D'Luz performed in this CD with artists [[Carlos Santana]], [[Willie Nelson]], [[Los Lonely Boys]], [[El Tri (band)|El Tri]], Elefante, [[Del Castillo (band)|Del Castillo]], [[Alberto Cortez]], [[Deepak Chopra]], [[Reyli]], Jorge Guevara, [[Ramón Ayala|Ramon Ayala]], and many more.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Olvera|first1=Crystal|title=Local singer featured on CD with Willie Nelson, Santana|url=http://www.themonitor.com/entertainment/local-singer-featured-on-cd-with-willie-nelson-santana/article_e6475238-9b68-5441-9fcf-d0636e41e73f.html?mode=story|access-date=3 March 2015|publisher=The Monitor|date=June 13, 2013}}</ref> D'Luz's vocals can be heard on songs "La Vida Es Un Sueño" and "Amalos," two of 15-tracks on the album. All songs were written by Hermes Music Foundation president Alberto Kreimerman.<ref>{{cite web|title=NAAM.org - Alberto Kreimerman|url=https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/alberto-kreimerman|website=NAMM|access-date=3 March 2015}}</ref>
D'Luz performed with Elefante for Jugueton ("Toy Marathon") 2010 in [[Los Angeles]] and has been an opening act for artists [[Jose Jose]], [[Leo Dan]], [[King Clave]], Yerbabuena & [[Nick Vujicic]]. She performed for social activist [[Dolores Huerta]] during the celebration of the naming of Dolores Huerta Avenue, the first street in her name.{{cn|date=April 2024}}
In 2013 and 2014, D'Luz was invited to perform multiple times at Houston's [[House of Blues]].<ref>{{cite web|title=House of Blues Performance, Houston, TX|url=http://mariadluz.com/event/house-blues-performance-foundation-room/|access-date=2 March 2015|website=Maria D'Luz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402094127/http://mariadluz.com/event/house-blues-performance-foundation-room/|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> She also performed with her band at the Springboard South music festival in Houston in June 2014 at [[Warehouse Live]], a live entertainment venue located in Houston.<ref>{{cite web|title=Springboard South Line Up 2014|url=http://www.springboardsouth.com/2014-line/|access-date=2 March 2015|website=Springboard South}}</ref> D'Luz also performs as a duo act with a rumba/flamenco guitarist, Mario Aleman, both performing as "Mario y Maria" where D'Luz sings, dances flamenco and plays cajon.<ref>{{cite web|title="Mario y Maria" Facebook page|url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mario-y-Maria/544841648898805|access-date=2 March 2015|website=Facebook}}</ref>
In August 2014, D'Luz released her second album, "While You Were Gone" including 11 original songs and a remake of "[[These Boots Are Made for Walkin']]".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Laura|first1=Garcia|title=Local musician D'Luz to release second album|url=http://www.yourvalleyvoice.com/news/local-musician-d-luz-to-release-second-album/article_7a9e60e8-1be2-11e4-8d5c-001a4bcf887a.html|access-date=3 March 2015|publisher=Valley Town Crier|date=August 4, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150308135504/http://www.yourvalleyvoice.com/news/local-musician-d-luz-to-release-second-album/article_7a9e60e8-1be2-11e4-8d5c-001a4bcf887a.html|archive-date=8 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title="While You Were Gone" Album|url=http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mariadluz|access-date=2 March 2015|website=www.cdbaby.com}}</ref> The album was recorded and mixed at Gospa Studios in McAllen, TX and mastered at Lurssen Mastering, owned by [[Gavin Lurssen]], a world-renowned multi Grammy award-winning mastering studio located in Hollywood, CA. To celebrate the completion of her second album, D'Luz provided her local friends and fans with a CD release party held at Havana Club in McAllen, TX.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pedraza Perez|first1=Roman|title=Maria D'Luz Presento Su Nueva Produccion Discografica "While You Were Gone"|url=http://mariadluz.com/revista-expresion-article-september-2014/|access-date=3 March 2015|issue=Año 16 Vol 192|publisher=Revista Expresion McAllen|date=September 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214085255/http://mariadluz.com/revista-expresion-article-september-2014/|archive-date=14 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The album is available for purchase at iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, etc.<ref>{{cite news|title="While You Were Gone" Album Purchase Links|url=http://mariadluz.com/album/whileyouweregone/|access-date=3 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214091638/http://mariadluz.com/album/whileyouweregone/|archive-date=14 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On November 26, 2014, D'Luz was featured on [[The Texas Bucket List]] show, airing in Texas, Colorado, Nevada and North Carolina. D'Luz participated on March 28, 2015, on [[Sabado Gigante]]'s "Competencia Internacional de Imitadores" where she impersonated [[Gloria Estefan]] and won the public's vote.{{cn|date=April 2024}}
D'Luz performs weekly at local venues and teaches music classes. D'Luz also does Spanish voice-overs for a Brazilian cartoon, Bob Zoom, now being streamed on [[Netflix]]. D'Luz is currently working on a new Tejano/Tex-Mex CD album which will be released in the winter of 2015 that is being produced and arranged by Santiago Castilo and mixed/mastered by [[Gilbert Velasquez]] of Velasquez Music in [[San Antonio]]. She currently resides in McAllen, TX and is an online student at Berklee College of Music.
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:D'Luz, Maria}}
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:American women singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American musicians of Mexican descent]]
[[Category:American women pianists]]
[[Category:Mexican pianists]]
[[Category:Mexican women pianists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mexican emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century American women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American pianists]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American women singers]]
[[Category:People from Brownsville, Texas]]