Paulina Álvarez

Paulina Álvarez
Background information
Birth nameRaimunda Paula Peña Álvarez
Also known asLa Emperatriz del Danzonete
Born(1912-06-29)June 29, 1912
Cienfuegos, Cuba
DiedJuly 22, 1965(1965-07-22) (aged 53)
Havana, Cuba
Genres
OccupationSinger
InstrumentVoice
Years active1920–65
Labels
Formerly of
  • Orquesta Elegante
  • Orquesta Castillito
  • Cheo Belén Puig
  • Neno González
  • Luis Armando Ortega
  • Rafael Somavilla

Raimunda Paula Peña Álvarez (June 29, 1912 – July 22, 1965), professionally known as Paulina Álvarez, was a Cuban singer recognized for her performances of danzonetes, a style that combines traditional danzón with vocals. She rose to prominence in the 1930s as the genre’s foremost interpreter and was popularly referred to as La Emperatriz del Danzonete (The Empress of the Danzonete). Her most notable success was "Rompiendo la rutina," considered the first danzonete, composed by Aniceto Díaz in 1929. In 1960, she released her only full-length LP.