Lura Born in Lisbon, Lurdes Assunção, or Lura, as she prefers to be known, is a young singer who descends from a Cape Verdean family. She began her artistic career at the age of 17, participating in recordings by choirs and in duets. Her talented voice, acknowledged immediately, led to the young singer’s involvement in recordings by a variety of highly-regarded African artists, such as Cesária Évora, Bonga, Tito Paris and Paulino Vieira, among others.

In 1996, she recorded her first CD of original songs, Nha Vida, all but one of which she wrote herself. Nha Vida became her calling card and resulted in her involvement, in 1997, in the compilation Onda Sonora Red Hot + Lisbon, alongside names such as David Byrne, Caetano Veloso, Djavan, Teresa Salgueiro, Marisa Monte, António Chaínho, Alto Lindsay and other well known world performers.

In 2002, she was invited to join the cast of singers at the 45th RTP Gala and the 100th birthday celebrations of journalist Fernando Pessoa.

In April 2002, her 2nd album In Love was released on Lusáfrica label, comprising 12 tracks, 7 of them her own originals, and including the special participation of Kimany Marley (Bob Marley’s son).

In July 2002, Lura did a European concert tour as part of the project “Cesária & Friends” and in October of the same year performed the first part of the Cesária Évora concerts at the Coliseu in Lisbon and Oporto.
(Source: http://lusoafrica.homestead.com).

The Cape Verdean singer will be performing Eclipse, her most recent work, at the MED on the 27th of June.

MySpace Profile - http://www.luracriola.com
Official Website - http://www.myspace.com/luracaboverde