September 10, 2007

Perla Batalla to Perform at Grand Theatre October 6th

Grammy nominee Perla Batalla will perform at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts on Saturday, October 6, 2007.

Tracy, Calif. - City of Tracy Cultural Arts Division announces that Grammy nominee Perla Batalla will perform during the 2007-2008 season's opening weekend at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts. Her performance will take place at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 6, at Grand's Theatre's ETK Theatre stage. The Grand Theatre is located at 715 Central Avenue in downtown Tracy, Calif.

Grammy nominated vocalist, composer, and arranger Perla Batalla first gained international attention as a backup singer for Leonard Cohen, who later encouraged her to embark on a solo career. Perla released her debut album, Perla Batalla in 1994. Critics called her singing "sublime" and her talent "stunning".

Perla released her second album, Mestiza, in 1998 on her own independent Mechuda Music label. It was named Best Independent Release of the Year by Amazon.com. Heaven and Earth followed in 2000, along with recognition as Amazon's Emerging Artist of the Year. Both Mestiza and Heaven and Earth celebrate a powerful civilization born from the union of English- and Spanish-speaking worlds, rich in mysticism, imagery, magic and myth.

Amazon.com said, ".Possessed of a vocal gift so deeply expressive as to belong in a class alongside some of the best singers of our age."

Discoteca Batalla, named for her parents' record shop, was a compilation of original compositions interspersed with traditional Spanish language classics arranged to reflect Perla's bicultural personal and musical heritage. Discoteca Batalla has appeared on many "best of" lists throughout the country. It was followed by Bird on a Wire, a tribute to Leonard Cohen.

Soon to be released is What I did on my Summer Vacation by Perla Batalla, a collection of songs recorded after journeying to Buenos Aires to meet her mother's side of the family for the first time.

Tickets to the Perla Batalla concert are $50, $45, $35, $30 and $25. Tickets to all shows are available online at www.atthegrand.org, by phone at 209-831-6TKT (6858) and at the Grand Theatre Box Office, 715 Central Avenue, Tracy, Calif., from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., Monday-Saturday and for one hour prior to each performance.