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Lissette Álvarez is a Cuban American singer, composer, and all around entertainer, the daughter of legendary Cuban singers Tony Álvarez and Olga Chorens, a.k.a Olga & Tony. Her parents were touring Latin America with their popular stage show when Lissette was born by chance in Lima, Perú. She, and her younger sister Olguita, were raised in Cuba, where Olga & Tony hosted and performed in their own television program, which maintained the highest ratings in Cuban television history for several years. At age 9, Lissette made her first recording, as well as her television debut with her parents singing "El ratoncito Miguel" (Mikey the little mouse) which became a hit, especially among children. Shortly after, Olguita also began appearing and singing on the show and the masses idolized them. It was all like a fairy tale: the perfect couple, perfect parents, and perfect children, showing off their multi-talents and charm on the TV screen.
The fairy tale ended abruptly in 1959 with the Cuban Revolution led by Commander Fidel Castro. Some of the first to feel the impact of the ruthless communist dictatorship were citizens in the arts and show-business since it seemed like comrade Castro was not very keen on sharing the spotlight with anyone, nor would he permit any cultural freedom. Consequently, radio and television stations were confiscated from their rightful owners along with publishing houses, the recording industry, the printed press, theaters, and nightclubs. Eventually, everything fell under the ferocious government control, including private schools, which meant children could now be indoctrinated with fierce communist propaganda. Like many Cuban parents at the time, Olga & Tony felt the need to save their children by sending them to the United States under what became known as "Operation Peter Pan" ("Operación Pedro Pan" in Spanish). Created by the Catholic Welfare Bureau, and operated covertly out of fear of retaliation on parents and children by the Castro tyranny, "Operation Peter Pan" was able to carry through successfully a mass exodus of over 14,000 unaccompanied Cuban minors to the United States between 1960 and 1962. Among those were Lissette and Olguita Álvarez.
The "Pedro Pan" children were usually given shelter and schooling in several South Florida camps until their parents could manage to flee Cuba and claim them. Unfortunately, Olga & Tony, banned from performing, with all their assets confiscated by the Cuban government, were detained in the island longer than they expected. In such cases, the children were sent elsewhere into what it was hoped were more stable lodgings. Lissette and her sister were first placed on an orphanage in Iowa but later moved to two different foster homes, from whence they were interned in a New York school, and later moved back to the South Florida camps. In late 1964 Olga & Tony were granted permission to abandon Cuba and they found refuge in Puerto Rico where they were given the opportunity to relaunch their career on television. However, it was not until 1965 that the family was able to reunite, due to all the red tape involved in having their daughters released to its custody.
After those troubled times which could have destroyed any family with less fiber, Olga & Tony achieved stardom once again with their wholesome television show in Puerto Rico. Lissette had reached adolescence, and was very much interested in following in her parents footsteps. She didn't have to wait long since her first solo album was released in 1966 and showed the young singer's diversity in musical tastes. She recorded Brazilian bossa novas such as "Agua de beber", a Broadway favorite "My favorite things", the French classic "Autumn Leaves", and The Rolling Stones'"Satisfaction" among others. ¡Quite a variety! Young people on the island, as well as Puerto Rican and Cuban teenagers residing in the United States, identified immediately with Lissette's voice and style. At the same time she became a trendsetter whose wardrobe, makeup, and hairdos were widely imitated by youth everywhere. Another big event that made Lissette reach incredible heights of popularity was her marriage in 1967 to Puerto Rican crooner Chucho Avellanet, her male counterpart in the teen idol singing business. The union was short lived, but all issues leading to the wedding and, to the 1969 divorce, were treated by the media as news of capital importance. Actually, in spite of the controversial divorce, the couple remained good friends and, even though they went on to other marriages, they would perform together in the future for the pleasure of their massive fan base.
By the time the 1960s folded, Lissette had recorded ten highly successful albums in less than four years, an industry record of sorts. The 1970s were a time of great musical changes but Lissette never missed a beat and was developing into an accomplished composer and spectacular show woman. From 1970 to 1979, the artist released twelve albums in less than ten years, among them some of the best sellers of her recording career. Each album included at least three selections that became top ten hits in Latin radio stations including her version of Barry Manilow's "Copacabana" with Spanish lyrics written by her. . Besides her unique talents as composer of her own tunes, Lissette demonstrated her unique skill for translating songs from their original language when she scored another international multi-million seller in 1985 with the Spanish version of Bonnie Tyler's "Total eclipse of the heart". Doubtless, she outdid herself with her translation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Song and Dance", a stage musical she performed at The Coconut Grove Playhouse to enthusiastic crowds and rave reviews.
Lissette's artistic output has included producing her own recordings, her stage shows, and television specials. Among the prestigious venues that have witnessed her sell out concerts were Carnegie Hall, and Avery Fischer Hall at Lincoln Center in New York, Jackie Gleason Theater, and James Knight Center in Miami, Center of Fine Arts in Puerto Rico, TropWorld Casino in Atlantic City, Michelangelo in Buenos Aires, just to mention a few. Her impact on television has also been outstanding as could only be expected from the daughter of Olga & Tony. Countless television specials in Latin stations and also in American channels such as her Peabody award winning "Lissette and friends" with Melissa Manchester, "Ladies and gentlemen: Lissette" with Michel Legrand, and "Lissette 1/2" which won her the Bronze trophy at The American Film Festival in New York.
It is truly impossible to list here all the awards that Lissette has received in her long, unstoppable career, including gold and platinum nods from the record industry, and "best female singer" won repeatedly from different organizations in various countries. However, especially dear to her is the UNICEF and World Vision Awards bestowed on the Willy Chirino Foundation, a charity she leads with her husband, Cuban singer, composer, producer and fellow Grammy winner Willy Chirino, whom she married in 1980. The couple, one of show-business' most successful marriages, lives in Miami and has produced three children, Nicole, Alana, and Gianfranco as well as several grandchildren. Lissette and Willy own their production firm and recording studio which is responsible for all the artistic and commercial output of the couple. Ignoring all their achievements, the dictatorship in Cuba continues to ban all music by the freedom loving Chirino Álvarez family from Cuban airwaves as of 2019.
