Canelita Medina

In 2008, she received the Orden Carlos Soublette recognition award from the Vargas state government. She then produced a CD collection including "Besos brujos," "El que se va no hace falta," "Tanto y tanto," "Quiéreme," "Besos salvajes," "Yo no escondo a mi abuelita," "El cangrejo no tiene ná," "La ruñidera," "Soy Canela," "El son de mi nación," "Rosas rojas," "La alborada," "Una noche de Francia" and "Coco Seco."

Her daughter, Trina Medina, has also had a notable career in music as a soloist and music writer for the 2007 Venezuelan film, Una abuela virgen. (see her biography in Spanish.) In The Book of Salsa, Rondón states, "it is impossible to overlook the contributions of Canelita and her daughter, Trina Medina, each with her own distinct, yet connected style."

Canelita Medina, whose real name is Rogelia Medina, was born in the port of La Guaira on March 6, 1939, and is seen as one of the greatest symbols of the "Son Montuno." She is a source of national pride for Venezuela and their 'living legend,' recently celebrating fifty years of life as an artist with a CD collection. She is considered one of the most versatile voices in Venezuela to sing music such as Son, the Guajira, the rhythmic Montuno and Bolero. She demonstrated an aptitude for singing since childhood. Her musical career began on a professional level in 1957 with the act "Sonora Caracas," with whom she remained for seven years and made her first recording "Canelita." She also joined "Los megatones de Lucho" and "Los Caribes" by Victor Piñero, after her performance alongside the "Estrellas Latinas" of La Guaira. Canelita took a break from the performances for a period of eight years, until joining Federico Betancourt in "Federico y su Combo Latino" and recording her first hit, "Besos brujos." She was the unique singer woman in the orchestra along with El Negrito Calavén, Carlín Rodríguez, El Bobby, Joe Ruiz, Orlando Watussi, Wladimir Lozano, Dimas Pedroza, Manny Bolaños and others. However, her talent became well known after she decided to go solo, recording the legendary album Sones y Guajira, a classic of Venezuelan discography. The album included "Rosa roja," "Yo no escondo a mi abuelita" and "Eso no es ná," among others. She then recorded albums which highlight her great success, such as Quiéreme, Noche triunfal and Canto a La Guairá, among others, until she became involved with El Sonero Clásico del Caribe, with whom she recorded two albums, from which two songs "Tanto y tanto" and "Ta ta Candela" became international hits.