Elizabeth

..2009 Univision Premios De La Música Latina "Revelación Del Año" (Best New Artist Of The Year) is Elizabeth Brackman-Paniagua, or nicknamed by her colleagues, "La Cantante". Elizabeth is a Latina full of spirit, depth and beauty that will touch your soul through her music. Born and raised in San Antonio, she exhibits a heritage rich in culture. Her Irish, Belgium, and Spanish ancestry culminate together to give Elizabeth’s exotic look and unique, musical style. Elizabeth’s drive and determination are inherited traits stemming from the ability to overcome all trials and tribulations. Elizabeth and her brother were raised by their mother after a tragic motorcycle accident killed their father, Patrolman Harry James Brackman of the San Antonio Police Department. Elizabeth’s late grandmother, Tomasita Flores Garcia sang beautiful harmonies with “Los Hermanos Aguilar” while working full-time at Brooks Air Force Base during World War II. Her great-grandfather Anastacio Garcia also played accordion in several “conjuntos” growing up at Mission Espada. Elizabeth’s musicality definitely comes from both sides of the family. Her great-grandfather Brackman played accordion and met a beautiful Belgium singer, Josephine. They both entertained European immigrants on their ship en route to the United States. They found work performing together in the East Coast and later married.For many years, Elizabeth watched her Uncles Clemente and Roger Garcia play the trumpet under the direction of John Pearson. Her Uncle Clem performed all over with the band “Johnny and The Spades”. Inspired, she began playing the trumpet at the age of 10. She received formal instruction through middle school, high school and university band programs. Performing in the Southwest Texas State University Jazz Band, she was hired at Sea World of Texas in the "Summer Nights" program under the direction of Al Sturchio. Working her way through college, she joined the horn section of the Trinidad Panmasters, a local reggae-pop band in San Antonio performing all over South Texas. Her only singing experience at that time was singing with the school and church choir. With the trumpet in her left hand and the microphone in her right, she sang popular reggae tunes to a cheering crowd. Her talent was recognized by many talent scouts and encouraged her to start her own band. Being that San Antonio is known as “The Tejano Capital of the World”, she formed a Tejano band formerly known as Elizabeth y Grupo Vision. Expanding the many genres of music she can perform besides Tejano music, she has entertained crowds at Sea World, reggae-festivals, political and corporate events who have all embraced the variety Elizabeth can produce. She continued to perform while attending college as a full-time student. She has earned an Associate Degree in Radio, Television & Film, a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts and a Master of Arts in Communication Arts from the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. Stressing the benefits of an education to young Americans, Elizabeth is an educator herself. She is a 4th Grade Bilingual Ed Teacher with experience in Kinder, 1st, and 2nd Grade.Her voice comes from the soul. It is like a warm breeze, coating your senses with musical stories of love, loss, passion and hope. Elizabeth embodies the word ARTIST! Her incredible 3 octave vocal range allows her to sing powerhouse upper-register songs compared to that of Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Celine Dion. The warm intonation and sexy style of her voice has been compared to a sweet mix between Gloria Estefan and Olga Tañon. Elizabeth finds her niche in danceable cumbias flamencas, Colombianas, and tropicales. Elizabeth has performed in San Antonio's "market square", various clubs like "Cadillac Bar", "Paradise", "Ruffino's", and "Los Generales", "La Marginal", and "Arjon's", charitable events, and many private parties. Elizabeth and her new band are looking forward to dominating the music scene. A songwriter, trumpet player, entertainer and record label CEO, she makes it clear that this music not only comes from her but from a collaboration of talented individuals such as, 7-time Grammy Award Winner and Record Producer, Gilbert Velasquez, song writers Beto Ramon, Luis Valenzi, George Tamayo and musicians Chente Barrera, Mario Ortiz, Hugo Guerrero, Angel Flores, Eddie Perez, “AJ” Castillo, Mario Vigil and Jorge Alejandro. Her new Tejano cd incorporates 2 rancheras, 5 cumbias, 2 torchy ballads and 1 instrumental/cumbia featuring her trumpet skill. Her first release "Nada De Ti" is currently playing all over Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Washington, California and Michigan! Another release from her album "SIEMPRE" will be released in March and a radio tour to follow. Her band GRUPO ESPADA are currently perfoming all over Texas and are in the planning stages of the next cd.Hear Elizabeth play her trumpet live!