Lila Downs

About

Mexican traditional and pop musician. She was recognized for her first commercially successful album, La Sandunga, from 1999.

Before Fame

She started her career by singing with mariachis while she was still young.

Trivia

She translated a death certificate for a man while working at a store in the Mixtec mountains. She discovered the certificate was for the man's son who had drowned trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. She often referenced this incident as inspiring her work.

Family Life

She and her partner Paul Cohen adopted a child together in 2010 named Benito Dxuladi.

Associated With

She worked alongside Shawn Ashmore while acting in the film Mariachi Gringo from 2012.