Occupation(s) Singer, author Instruments Vocals Children Albita Rodríguez | Years active 1940s–2010s Associated acts Martín y Minerva | |
Born February 26, 1929
Sancti Spíritus, Cuba ( 1929-02-26 ) Genres decima campesina
folk
latin Died 11 July 2016, Miami, Florida, United States | ||
Minerva Herrera (1929 – 2016) was a popular Cuban folk singer, who performed as part of the duo Martín y Minerva. She is perhaps best known as the mother of Albita, the Grammy-winning Cuban-American singer, producer and composer. Under the name of Mima, she appeared on a popular segment of her daughter's show, La descarga con Albita.
Biography
As a youngster, Herrera showed an affinity for decima campesina, a type of Cuban folk song. Later she would publish four books on the musical genre.
With Martín Rodríguez she formed the music duo Martín y Minerva. In 1952, her partner became her second husband. The team rose to prominence on Palmas y Cañas, a Cuban television program. The couple had two children together, Angel Miguel and Albita. She also has two children from a previous marriage.
Her daughter, Albita is a popular recording artist. In 2010, Minerva began appearing on her daughter's television show, La descarga con Albita, which airs on Mega TV. Minerva was featured on "Mima's Counsels," a popular segment of the show.
Herrera died of a heart attack in her Miami home on Monday, July 11, 2016.