Like Justin Timberlake or Ricky Martin, the versatile singer-actor Edith Márquez graduated from a teen pop group to become a solo star – in her case, Mexico's "Reina de las Baladas" (Queen of the Ballads). A childhood winner of TV singing competitions including ‘Canta, Canta' (Sing, Sing) and ‘Juguemos a Cantar' (Let's Play at Singing), Márquez joined the band Timbiriche in 1987 at age 14 – just in time to help record their platinum-selling double album ‘Timbiriche VIII & IX.' At the same time, Márquez was also acting in the popular TV sitcom ‘Papá Soltero' (Single Father).

Since leaving Timbiriche in 1991, Márquez has enjoyed a long and successful career as a big-voiced singer of both pop songs and Mexican regional styles. Her 1998 solo debut, ‘Frente a Ti' (In Front of You), included the stirring hits "Mi Error, Mi Fantasía" and "Mírame" (Look at Me), songs she still performs. Her subsequent albums include ‘Caricias del Cielo' (Caresses of Heaven, 2000), ‘Extraviate' (Lose Your Way, 2001), and ‘Cuando Grita la Piel' (When the Skin Screams, 2005).

Márquez specializes in belting out emotionally loaded ballads over string-heavy arrangements. She ingeniously mixed things up on albums such as 2008's ‘Pasiones de Cabaret,' which consists of ballads and boleros performed in the style of a sultry Latina torch singer accompanied by a full orchestra and backing singers. She followed it with ‘Duele' (It Hurts), an album of passionate pop-rock. ‘Emociones and Emociones 2' included traditional rancheras and mariachi tunes.

In 2018, Márquez released ‘Contigo' (With You), her 13th solo album of stirring balladry. Her tour for the album reflected her love of Mexican regional music more than ever. It included a tribute to ranchera legend Vicente Fernandez assisted by Banda la Trakalosa de Monterrey lead singer Edwin Luna, her fellow judge on reality-TV music competition ‘La Academia.' While performing at Mexico City's Auditorio Nacional, singer-actor Kalimba joined her for an unprecedented streetwise take on his hit "Tu Corazón lo Sabe [Your Heart Knows It] (Lat'n Party)."

As you might expect from an eight-time nominee for Lunas del Auditorio awards honoring onstage performances in the Balada (Ballad) and Música Mexicana categories, Edith Márquez live shows are must-sees indeed.