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              Tara Linda Bio

              Tara Linda high res pic
              Equipped with a sultry voice, button accordion, and baritone ukulele, chanteuse Tara Linda plays original jazzy blues, Latin torch, and American roots.  A Hohner-endorsed artist, she writes new tangos, waltzes, and boleros, and skirts global genres to blend them into a style uniquely hers.

              Influenced by the early torch singers of American and Latin American cultures, Tara writes original music grounded in the Texas traditions she grew up with; Americana, blues, rock, and jazz. She has a world music heritage (Indian) and sings in Spanish and English. Tara Linda's performances are described as "mesmerizing" (Oakland Tribune/San Jose Mercury News) and her vocals “rich” and "sultry" (The Muse's Muse).

              Tara Linda came of age as a drummer in rock and punk bands in Austin Texas, all the while soaking up the region’s Americana, blues, and Tex-Mex influences. She later fell in love with 1930’s Latin torch, and picked up the accordion. "The accordion takes you around the world like no other instrument," Tara says, "from Argentine bodegas, through French cafés, and across the borderlands of South Texas. As a singer, the accordion is emotional and endlessly expressive."

              Recently featured in the San Francisco Bay Area as the face of the new “Accordionista” for the rising popularity of the accordion (Oakland Tribune/San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times, Nov 19, 2009), Tara Linda has been a featured artist in the 2009, 2010, and new 2011 Accordion Babes Pinup Calendar/CDs- each a wildly successful “fun, girl-powered makeover for the accordion.” These fast selling calendars have become collector’s items nationally and internationally, and feature pictures and music from all the featured Babes.

              "My latest CD Tortilla Western Serenade, reflects my roots growing up in both Texas and Arizona; the landscape, people, cultures, and music- including traditional conjunto music of South Texas. These traditional song forms- the ranchera, waltz, bolero, cumbia, and haupango- are natural textures in the Western landscape."

              Tara Linda has performed from China to Virginia, from festivals to house concerts. She toured China and Mongolia with 2010 Grammy Winners Los Texmaniacs. Whether solo or backed by a full band; Tara Linda captivates.  Tara Linda performs 2 styles of music:
              ~ Tortilla Western/Americana meets Tex-Mex; and
              ~ Jazzy blues mixed with early Latin torch. 

              Tara Linda lives in Oakland, CA and tours with Tortilla Western bands- the “The Gila Men” or “Big in Texas”, or jazzy blues band "The Blue Fur Monkeys."  All feature accordion, bass, guitar, horns/violin, drums/percussion, and accordion.
              Picture
              Tara Linda ~ Photo by Bill Goodman
               

              Available on itunes Available on Amazon CDbaby


                Contact Tara


              Influences

              Sarah Vaughan, Sia, Zero 7, Lydia Mendoza, Connie Francis, Louie Armstrong, Edith Piaf, Tony Bennett, Llasa de Sela, Ennio Morricone, The Pixies, Ella Fitzgerald, PJ Harvey, Danny Elfman.

              Discography

              Tara Linda: (2010) Tortilla Western Serenade
              Tara Linda & Luna Nueva: (2008) New Moon.
              Tara Linda: (2006) Fool’s Journey
              Polliwog: (2001) Musical Score to Hamlet’s Women
              The Succulents: (1999) The Witch, the Sailor, & the Enchanted Monkey

              Past Projects

              Damond Moodie: "Wrestling with Giants" CD Back-up vocals
              The Jazz Aquabats: Vocals & Percussion
              Discordion [Tom Waits cover band]:  Drummer
              The IronSheik:  “We Shall Remember” (CD):  back-up vocals
              Polliwog Musical Theatre (CD):  Vocals
              The Succulents (CD): Drummer, Vocals
              The Roll Models, Band No. 7, Photogenix (Austin TX) : Drummer, Vocals.
               
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              Available on itunes Available on Amazon CDbaby

              Contact Tara Linda