Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on 2 February 1977 in Barranquilla, Colombia. She is a Colombian singer-songwriter, dancer, and record producer, referred to as the “Queen of Latin Music”.
๐ต Early Life and Beginnings
Shakira is the only child of William Mebarak Chadid and Nidia Ripoll Torrado, of Lebanese and Catalan Colombian descent. She wrote her first poem at age four and composed her first song at age eight after receiving a guitar from her aunt.
At age four, she first heard a doumbek at a Middle Eastern restaurant and spontaneously began dancing on a table. In second grade, she was rejected from the school choir because her vibrato was considered too strong.
๐ฟ Recording Debut and Early Albums
Shakira made her recording debut with Sony Music Colombia at age 14. Her debut album, Magia, was released in June 1991 and sold only 1,200 copies in Colombia.
Her second studio album, Peligro, was released in March 1993 but became another commercial failure. In 1994, the song “ยฟDรณnde Estรกs Corazรณn?” became a hit in Colombia, leading Sony to move forward with her third album.
๐ Rise to Prominence
Shakira rose to prominence with the albums Pies Descalzos (1995) and Dรณnde Estรกn los Ladrones? (1998). Pies Descalzos sold over 5 million copies and achieved top ranking in eight countries.
Her first English release, Laundry Service (2001), sold over 13 million copies worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards and 15 Latin Grammy Awards.
๐ Achievements and Recognition
Shakira is among the world’s best-selling musicians with numerous number-one singles. Billboard named her the Top Female Latin Artist of the Decade twice (2000s and 2010s).
She served as a coach on The Voice, had a voice role in Zootopia, and has been involved with the FIFA World Cup since 2006. She received the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year award in 2011.
| Category | Detail | Year | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | Barranquilla, Colombia | 2 Feb 1977 | Only child of Lebanese/Catalan Colombian parents |
| Debut Album | Magia | 1991 | Sold 1,200 copies in Colombia |
| Breakthrough | Pies Descalzos | 1995 | Sold over 5 million copies |
| First English Album | Laundry Service | 2001 | Sold over 13 million copies worldwide |