Lunna

Early years

Lunna (birth name: Maria Socorro Garcia de la Noceda ) was born and raised by both her parents in Ponce, Puerto Rico. While in elementary school, she learned how to play the guitar and in 1958, her mother had her take private singing lessons. In the 1960s, while still in high school, she began to sing under the name "Sockey", which was short for her middle name Socorro.

In 1978, Lunna auditioned and was accepted in a group called Allegro, a locally popular group which included singer Tito Lara. Besides singing for Allegro, she also landed jobs singing radio and television commercials. Lunna eventually left the group to start singing solo. Her agent recommended that she change her artistic name, resulting in the "Lunna" name.

She met and became romantically involved with Puerto Rican rock and roll teen idol, Charlie Robles. This romance was highly publicized in Puerto Rico and soon they were married. Sockey and Charlie had a daughter from this marriage; however, things didn't go well in the marriage and the couple ended up in divorce.

Singing career

In 1982, Lunna traveled to Lima, Peru, to represent Puerto Rico at the OTI Festival, with the song " sin tu musica" (Witchout your music). Her fame soared in Puerto Rico, but her career was interrupted because of personal reasons. After four years of absence from the world of music, Glenn Monroig, a fellow singer, convinced her to return. Together they recorded the album "A Todo Dar" (Everything Gives), the first digitally produced album in Puerto Rico. The album was renamed "Motivos" (Motives) and was produced by Angel "Cuco" Peña, it became a big "hit" in Puerto Rico. Among the songs included in the album was the song "Yo Perdi" (I Lost). "Yo Perdi" made Puerto Rican musical history, when it became the "first" Puerto Rican song to be converted into a musical video, filmed in 35 mm. In 1983, Lunna married Angel "Cuco" Peña, with whom she had three children, Gabriel, Juan and Angel (they later divorced).

In 1987, Lunna was signed by A&M Records and recorded the following successful songs, "No Digas Nada" (Don't Say Anything), "Ni Princesa, Ni Esclava" (Nor Princess, Nor Slave) and "Fugitiva Amante" (Fugitive Lover). That same year, she was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 1988 and 1989, Lunna continued to score more "hits" with the recording of "Soledad" (Loneliness), "Quien No Ha Sentido..." (Who Hasn't Felt...) and with "Como Ser Amante" (How to be a Lover) written by Michael Bolton.

In 1992, Lunna reunited with Glen Monroig and they recorded the album "Yo Que Te Adore" (I, Who Have Adored You). In 2003, Lunna recorded "Lunna de Bohemia", which included many classical boleros. That same year, she suffered a personal tragedy when her son died. Lunna, who is also a jazz lover, participated in the "Heineken Jazz Jam Session" and in the "Tropical Night at the Seaport".

Recognitions and awards

Among the many recognitions and awards Lunna has received are the following:

Civic participation

Among the many organizations in which Luna is currently involved as a private citizen are the American Cancer Society, Puerto Rico Easter Seals, Say "No" to Drugs campaign, the Pediatric AIDS Center and the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund. She is also a member of "La Damas Cívica de Puerto Rico" (The Civic Lady of Puerto Rico) and she was the director of the television show Objetivo Fama, which was the Latin version of American Idol. Lunna studies classical singing and musical composition at the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico, where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

Discography

Alternate Discography: