La India is a chart-topping, Latin Grammy-winning, New York Puerto Rican salsa singer with a long, illustrious career. She has shortened her name to just “India,” but we still use “La India” to avoid complications in web search.
La India in New York City
CancelledLa India, “La Princesa de la Salsa,” sings Puerto Rican salsa on the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall in Midtown; on November 25, 2023 at 8pm. From $84. carnegiehall.org 🇵🇷
La Princesa de la Salsa
Linda Viera Caballero was born in Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico on March 9, 1969. She was raised in the South Bronx. Many great musicians come from Rio Piedras.
Her abuela gave her the nickname “La India” because of her long, straight, black hair. On the island, that’s a sign of Indigenous Taíno heritage.
Linda’s musical journey started with New York Puerto Rican DJs Louie Vega, and John “Jellybean” Benitez when she was part of the Latin freestyle movement of early rap.
Eddie Palmieri pulled her into salsa. “Llego La India via Eddie Palmieri” (The India has Arrived via Eddie Palmieri) is a classic salsa album from 1992. It reached #5 on the Billboard US Tropical Albums chart.
Later she worked with Marc Anthony and Celia Cruz. It was Celia, “La Reina de la Salsa” (The Queen of Salsa) who named La India “La Princesa de la Salsa” (The Salsa Princess). That’s a real coronation because in classical Latin music there is nobody bigger than Celia and there never will be.
Like everyone, La India has had ups and downs in her life, but she keeps standing back up with more amazing music. Standing strong is the sign of a real princess. El pueblo really loves India. She’s a strong Caribbean woman.
La India Albums
Breaking Night (1990) was India’s freestyle beginning.
Llego La India via Eddie Palmieri (1992) was the beginning of India’s salsa.
Dicen Que Soy (1994) has the hit “Vivir Lo Nuestro” with Marc Anthony.
Latin Songbird: Mi Alma y Corazón (2003) won Billboard’s Tropical ALbum of the Year.
Soy Diferente (2007) won Billboard’s Tropical Album of the Year.
Intensamente con Canciones de Juan Gabriel (2016) won the “Best Salsa Album” Latin Grammy.
New York Venues
La India now sings in the world’s most respected theaters. She occasionally plays smaller venues in New York.
- Barclays Center
- Carnegie Hall
- Coney Island Amphitheater
- Lehman Center
- Radio City Music Hall
- Ritz Theatre
- Sabor Latino
![India x Goyo - Nubes Negras [Official Video] #NubesNegras #LaIndia #goyo](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QT9afjpblyE/hqdefault.jpg)