Julissa (singer)

{{short description|Puerto Rican singer-songwriter}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Julissa

| image =

| caption =

| image_size =

| birth_name = Julissa Arce Rivera

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|1|13}}

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, United States

| origin = Dorado, Puerto Rico

| instrument = Vocals

| genre = Contemporary Christian music, worship music

| occupation = Singer-songwriter

| years_active = 1998–present

| label =

| associated_acts =

| website = [http://www.julissa.org]

}}

Julissa Arce Rivera (born January 13, 1976) commonly known simply as Julissa, is a Puerto Rican Christian music singer.{{Cite web|title=Julissa Arce Rivera|url=https://www.praisemusicinternacional.com/julissa-arce-rivera|access-date=2021-08-10|website=praisemusic|language=en|archive-date=August 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810032123/https://www.praisemusicinternacional.com/julissa-arce-rivera|url-status=dead}}

From her first album, Regresará por mi,{{Cite web|title=Julissa {{!}} Album Discography|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/julissa-mn0000301645/discography|access-date=2021-08-10|website=AllMusic|language=en}} she distinguished by her musical excellence, which has gone hand in hand with her husband, Mike Rivera.{{Cite web|title=JULISSA|url=https://g12radio.com/julissa/|access-date=2021-08-10|website=G12 Radio|language=es}}

Early life

Julissa was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Puerto Rican parents. She was the oldest of four siblings. Julissa debuted as a singer when she was twelve, with the choir of her church. At age 16, she started singing professionally with a local group called Generación Escogida. With them, she recorded several albums.

Career

Under her own label, Firmeza Music, Julissa releases her first solo album titled Regresará Por Mí in 1998. The album was produced, arranged, and recorded by her husband, Mike. The album received a Tu Música Award for Best Christian Album, and a Tito Lara Award for Album of the Year. It was also nominated for two Viva Awards in Guatemala for International Album of the Year and International Singer of the Year. Julissa then toured Latin America with pastor Yiye Avila as part of his crusade.[http://www.altar7.com/noticias/?p=675 Nuevas grabaciones de Julissa para Espiritu Latino] on Altar7 (May 17, 2008)

Julissa's second album was a Christmas album titled Nació En Mi Corazón, which was recorded during her first pregnancy. After this, she and her husband relocated to Miami, Florida.[http://www.cristianospr.com/m/articles/view/Julissa Biografía de Julissa] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230105051/http://www.cristianospr.com/m/articles/view/Julissa|date=December 30, 2010}} en CristianosPr.com During the following years, she worked on several projects like her first live album (Admisión General) released in 2002, and Duetos, an album featuring duets with known Christian singers like Roberto Orellana, René González, and others. In 2003, she released Corazón Latino.{{Cite web|date=2009-06-15|title=Julissa grabará su primer disco en inglés {{!}} History Maker|url=https://www.historymaker.com.ar/julissa-grabara-su-primer-disco-en-ingles.html|access-date=2021-08-10|language=es}}

In 2006, Julissa became the first Puerto Rican to be nominated for a Dove Award for her album Mi Propósito.[http://christianmusic.about.com/od/doves/a/06gmaAOYnoms_3.htm 37th Annual GMA Music Awards Nominees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111152133/http://christianmusic.about.com/od/doves/a/06gmaAOYnoms_3.htm |date=November 11, 2010 }} on About.com; Jones, Kim[http://www.noticiacristiana.com/musica-cristiana/2006/02/julissa-primera-voz-femenina-puertorriquena-nominada-al-dove-award.html Julissa: Primera voz femenina puertorriqueña nominada al Dove Award] on NoticiaCristiana.com (February 14, 2006) That same year, she released her ninth album titled Inolvidable, which features contemporary renditions of classic hymns. She also started hosting a weekly show called Espíritu Latino on Gospel Music Channel.{{Cite news|last=Elliott|first=Stuart|date=2008-10-27|title=Cable Channel Tells Viewers: Sing You Sinners (and Saints)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/27/business/media/27adnewsletter1.html|access-date=2021-08-10|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|last=Editor|first=James D. Davis Religion|title=CROSS PURPOSES|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2006-08-12-0608101117-story.html|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Sun-Sentinel.com|date=August 12, 2006 |language=en-US}}

In 2007, Julissa released the album El Ritmo de la Vida,{{Cite web|date=2013-09-28|title=Mejor así Julissa|url=https://www.cancionescristianas.org/mejor-asi-julissa/|access-date=2021-08-10|website=www.cancionescristianas.org|language=es}} which was accompanied by a book written by her.{{Cite book|last1=Julissa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BU0gUL_ZQ1sC|title=El ritmo de la vida|last2=Wiehl|first2=Lis|last3=Henry|first3=April|date=2010-05-03|publisher=Grupo Nelson|isbn=978-1-4185-8194-7|language=en}} The album gave Julissa her second Dove Award nomination.[http://www.cbn.com/cbnmusic/news/021508doves.aspx Nominations Announced for 39th GMA Dove Awards] on CBN Two years later, she was nominated again for the album Adorándote,[http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010/02/18/41st-annual-gma-dove-awards-nominees-announced/ 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards Nominees Announced] on Tennessean (February 18, 2010) and in the Arpa Awards.{{Cite web|last=Cristiana|first=Red|title=Julissa recibe dos nominaciones a los Premios ARPA|url=https://www.acontecercristiano.net/2009/08/julissa-recibe-dos-nominaciones-los.html|access-date=2021-08-10}} In the same year, Julissa was present in Phoenix for the great NBA All-Star party.{{Cite web|last=Hispanosnba.com|date=2009-02-12|title=La cantante Julissa actuará en el All-Star de Phoenix|url=https://www.hispanosnba.com/noticias/2009/02/12/cantante-julissa-actuara-all-star-phoenix|access-date=2021-08-10|website=hispanosnba.com|language=es}}

In 2012, she released her album Metamorphosis in two versions: Spanish and English.{{Cite web|title="El Gran Yo Soy", nuevo video clip de Julissa – SEPA – Asociación de Editoriales Evangélicas|date=May 14, 2013 |url=https://www.sepaweb.org/noticias/musica-noticias/el-gran-yo-soy-nuevo-video-clip-de-julissa/|access-date=2021-08-10|language=es}}{{Cite web|title=Lyrics of Great I Am by Julissa from Metamorphosis Album|url=https://www.passionforlord.com/2013/05/lyrics-of-great-i-am-by-julissa-from.html|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Passion for Lord|date=May 7, 2013 |language=en}} In 2015, she released her most recent album Me vistió de promesas.{{Cite web|date=2015-08-25|title=Julissa presenta el tema "Me Vistió de Promesas"|url=https://cvclavoz.com/editorial/julissa-presenta-el-tema-me-vistio-de-promesas/|access-date=2021-08-10|website=CVCLAVOZ|language=es}}

In 2017, she participated in the National Hispanic Heritage Month as a representation of Puerto Rico at the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States.{{Cite web|last=Yonel|first=Luther|title=La Casa Blanca tuvo una visita celestial cuando la cantante cristiana Julissa adoró a Dios. - Mundo De Cristo {{!}} Música, Vídeos, Medios y Noticias Cristianas|url=https://www.mundodecristo.net/2017/10/la-casa-blanca-tuvo-una-visita.html|access-date=2021-08-10|website=www.mundodecristo.net|language=en}}

After almost four years of absence from the recording studios, in 2019 Julissa returns with her album Llueve, recorded live in Spring Valley (California) to celebrate her 20 years of music ministry.{{Cite web|date=2019-03-20|title=Julissa celebra 20 años de ministerio con el álbum "Llueve aquí"|url=https://ambientestereo.fm/sitio/2019/03/20/julissa-celebra-20-anos-de-ministerio-con-el-album-llueve-aqui/|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Ambiente Stereo|language=es}}

Personal life

During recordings, she met musician, songwriter, and producer Mike Rivera.{{Cite web |date=2013-03-14 |title=Julissa transforma con su arte |url=https://www.primerahora.com/estilos-de-vida/moda-estilo/notas/julissa-transforma-con-su-arte/ |access-date=2021-08-10 |website=Primera Hora |language=es}} They married on November 29, 1997 and moved to Dorado, Puerto Rico. Julissa and Mike have three children: John Michael, Alyrah and Jayden.{{Cite web |last=Neri |first=Anabella |title=Vida familiar y carrera artística de Julissa |url=https://www.aboutespanol.com/julissa-biografia-2449291 |access-date=2021-08-10 |website=aboutespanol |language=en}}

Collaborations

In his career, he has recorded songs with Funky,{{Cite web|title=Hermano Mio (Invitado Funky) - Julissa {{!}} Música Cristiana - Escuchar música cristiana online|url=http://www.cristiana.fm/julissa/corazon-latino/hermano-mio-invitado-funky/|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Música Cristiana|language=es}} Marcela Gándara,{{Cite web|title="Nadie toma tu lugar", la nueva canción de Julissa a dúo con Marcela Gándara – El Mensaje Comunicaciones|url=https://elmensajecomunicaciones.com/nadie-toma-tu-lugar-la-nueva-cancion-de-julissa-a-duo-con-marcela-gandara/|access-date=2021-08-10|language=es}} Daniel Calveti,{{Cite web|title=Julissa y Daniel Calveti cantan a dúo "Espíritu de Dios"|url=https://www.evangelicodigital.com/cultura/1996/julissa-calveti|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Evangelico Digital|language=es}} René González, Redimi2, Alex Zurdo,{{Cite web|title=Julissa presenta Remix de "Libertad", junto a Su Presencia y Alex Zurdo|url=https://www.graciastereo.com/2020/11/julissa-presenta-remix-de-libertad.html|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Noticias Cristianas y Actualidad}} among others, also appearing in various collaborative projects.{{Citation|title=Gotta Have Musica Cristiana - Various Artists {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/gotta-have-musica-cristiana-mw0000358476|language=en|access-date=2021-08-10}}

Discography

Awards

=Wins=

  • 1999 Tu Música Awards, Puerto Rico: Christian Album of the Year (Regresará Por Mí)
  • 1999 Tito Lara Awards, Puerto Rico: Revelation Artist
  • 2001 Viva Awards, Guatemala: International Female Voice
  • 2001 Viva Awards, Guatemala: Song of the Year ("Enamorada")
  • 2004 Conquistadores Awards, Los Angeles, CA: Contemporary Album of the Year (Corazón Latino)
  • 2004 Paoli Awards, Orlando, FL: Female Singer of the Year
  • 2004 Latin Music Fan Awards, Los Angeles, CA: Christian Album of the Year (Corazón Latino)
  • 2006 Paoli Awards, Orlando, FL: Female Singer of the Year
  • 2006 Arpa Awards, Mexico: Female Album of the Year (Mi Propósito)

=Nominations=

References

{{reflist}}