INDIA

India is my cuzin. India is everybody’s cuzin. She is part of that 80’s Freestyle generation and a part of all those people who grew up with the movement . She is that neighborhood girl that everybody backed up and stood up for, when ever needed. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx, Linda Caballero grew up like many other Nuyorican youths did. She went through and faced the same experiences all inner city kids did and overcame all obstacles.

Like many Latinas of that time, she roamed the streets
and clubs with the Latin hiphop crowds. Hanging out with the same circle of friends that
basically spawned the mid 80’s movement in New York.  At the age of 16 India
began to sing at local jams with her friends who formed the group TKA . As many others in
the same circle already began releasing their albums, India herself decided to go solo.

She hooked up with already known producer John “Jellybean Benitez” and sang one of her first solo records “Dancing on the Fire” which was already well known in the streets as an early 80’s street jam. She then followed with “Mirage” another cover, but one that she would add her own flavor and dialect. Like Jellybean’s “The Mexican” and the Bad Boy Orchestra’s “Do You Wanna Dance” , India’s records all held about the same sound. This sound was good in bridging the New York traditional sound with Amareto “clave Rocks” and Natasha’s “To Be Gentle With My Heart” type of records. India worked very closely with Jellybean and another of the top Freestytle DJ’s, turned producers of that time “Little” Louie Vega, who already produced many other artist for his Small Wonders Productions.

The trio team became legendary and were
basically the “core” underground Freestyle figures. What that meant was that
they were huge and commercially successful, but maintained the heart and image of the
underground youth. As the years passed India, Louie, and Jellybean were noticed to have
big House music influences. This might be due to the fact that they were working with
House producers, every one from Todd Terry to David Morales.

It was noticeable that India’s later
material “Right From The Start” and “The Lover Who Rocks You” both
held versions for a straight up Freestyle crowd and a straight up House crowd. By the time
she released “I Cant Get No Sleep” , it was confirmed that she completely
crossed over to the House genre, which at the time was predicted to be the next “BIG
THING” in underground Dance music of the 90’s. “Little” Louie Vega
also crossed over and began working closely with Todd Terry. Through out the years India
and “Little” Louie Vega grew close and worked so well together that they
eventually got married. By the early 90’s Louie and India were like a team.

Vega started dedicated work for Strictly Rhythm
Records, one major player in the New York House scene. He used India in many different
projects. He worked closely with Todd Terry and Kenny “Dope” and they all soured
high in the elite of the House world. By the summer of 94 India made a huge return
conquering both the “Freestyle turned Latin-house” crowds as well as the
traditional House crowds with “Love and Happiness ( Yemaya y Ochun)” which
basically was a chorus of a 70’s classic song mixed with Santero themes.

Around the same time, after following a path that Mark Anthony started, she began singing Salsa. Married to Louie, through him she already had family members who were already legends in the Salsa world, by way of Louie’s uncle Hector Lavoe. Her commercial intro into the Salsa world was official when she did a popular number with Mark Anthony called “Vivir Lo Nuestro” which then followed with her album entitled “LLEGO LA INDIA”.

She would go on world tours with Celia
Cruz, Oscar de Leon, and other major legends. This earned her tittle “Princess of
Salsa” as their has never been a woman to rock the Salsa world so hard and so fast
since Celia Cruz.

India was and still is the only woman who could
burn down the house for an all gay crowd like she did at New York’s Sound Factory
Bar, and at the same time blow away a league of machismo Salsero types that dominate the
world of Salsa. She is said to be the industry’s Tomboy, who likes to play with the
big boys and knows how to hold the pants better than they ever will.. This is the way many
think of India, a strong , take no bullshit artist.

As one of Freestyles top vocalist, it was a major
loss for the genre when she left. However, she conquered the hearts and respect of many
and took that with her. For this reason alone when she went Salsa, those who operated
radio already recognized her from the Freestyle scene, opened the doors for her in her new
venture.

As the years continued to pass, her marriage to
Louie Vega ended in a non-bitter divorce. Despite this , they both remained friends and
continued to work together. In 1995 she went back and re-worked on “I Cant Get No
Sleep” for M.A.W remixes which were used in the sound track of the movie
“Virtuosity” . “Little” Louie Vega then teamed up with Kenny
“Dope” Gonzalez and formed the production team Masters at Work. M.A.W. besides
remixing and creating so many projects for so many people, they finally made their album
entitled NUYORICAN SOUL.

The Nuyorican soul project consisted of working
with many talents such as Roy Ayers, Tito Puente, George Benson, and many others. India
also found herself on this project. She would re-interpret Lolitha Holloway’s
“Run Away”. Through out her long career, at the end she was considered one of
Dance music’s top women.

In 1998, after a long career of conquering so
many different markets, India was nominated for a Grammy, the highest music award a
musician could ever receive. She was nominated for her hit “Sobre El Fuego”, a
Salsa scorcher who took her to the Tropical Grammy category. Whether India received the
Grammy or not, she still holds the tittle of Grammy nominee, a tittle no one can take
away. Grammy or not, nothing can compare with the love she receives from people, all those
who supported her from the beginning.

Freestyle ,House, Salsa or anytype of music,
India as a second generation Latina will always be part of our history. More important,
she is a big part of the American history. The history that many individuals have created
and added to this tapestry we call American Culture. La India means “The Indian
Girl”. A name she inherited from her friends and family. A name that reminds us all
of who are first Native Americans. The only difference between India and them and so many
of us, is what side of a border you were born at. India is like Pocahontas, a neutral
party between a torn country helping unite them beyond color, shape or skin tone.

When it comes to Freestyle or Latin HipHop
culture, India is a strong figure. She is proof that the purpose and dream of Freestyle
never really failed her. It did for her exactly what it was supposed to do. Open a door,
brake her into a industry and receive love and respect before fame, something not every
one achieves. In our history and in the history of this thing we call Disco, that spans
now for 30 years , India will always be a great legend.

India brought so much strength and character to
the Dance scene. Her vocals soared high like sirens. Her presence is much like her flavor,
a deep ocean of mystery. India has rocked the box and conquered hearts in the past, and
she is sure to rock and conquer them again in the future. One never knows what to expect
from her next , but its sure to be slammin.

As years will pass , in the Freestyle scene there
is sure to be new generations of many young talented artist, but nomatter who comes and
goes, no one will ever replace or top the legend of INDIA.

Jonpito