Lila Downs

Bio

The majority of Lila Downs’ childhood was spent in Oaxaca, Mexico, where she learned to sing rancheras and other traditional Mexican music. Upon her parents’ separation, Downs was sent to live with family in California, U.S. and developed her love and passion for music, in particular classical and opera. When Downs was 16 her father died, and the singer returned to Tlaxiaco to be with her mother. In a crisis of identity and about what she was doing with her self, Downs dropped out of studying classical and opera, and became a Deadhead, following the Grateful Dead around the U.S. in a camper van.