RAQUELA® is an American, Theatrical Dance-pop, House music and Hi-NRG singer/songwriter, recording artist, assistant producer and actress.  She successfully released dance tracks that have made her a recognized Billboard artist today.  She is the eldest to German American and Texas Mexican, Fred and Elizabeth Burt.  Raquela began fascinating the audience since she was 7 years old. At 9 she began performing professionally on stage.  She was 12 when she wrote and performed her first original folk/contemporary/pop song on guitar.  Her proud beginnings started off in a small cowboy town called Elk Grove, (Northern California) where, at the time, Mexican Americans were not so commonly accepted into theatre.  Despite those obstacles, she was still awarded scholarships that allowed her to take off for Los Angeles.  There she studied Voice, Music and Musical Theatre.  She was later endorsed into two California Proclamations by Senator Diane Feinstein for her civil duties as the 1st Mexican American crowned, "Miss Orange County".  After winning several more vocal competitions and earning many nominations for ‘Best Actress’ throughout the country, she eventually found herself on Broadway!

Her stage name, “Raquela”, evolved while working in New York City.  She struggled just to get people to remember her name, much less spell it.  Her inter-racial appearance often confused many.  She promised that the next time someone called her “Mrs. Burt”, she would drop her last name.  And in 1999, she did just that.  When Raquela was asked about her musical influences, she quickly replied, “Oh everyone in my life has inspired me.  Even my high school drafting teacher!  But I’ll tell you this, the first time I heard my favorite Pop star and Broadway actress release a disco track together, my life changed!”  She was speaking of course, about Donna Summer and Barbara Streisand.  In her younger years, opera stars like mezzo-soprano Jessye Norman, made an impact on her earliest vocal techniques.  On a theatrical approach, surprisingly it was Rock stars like Styx, Rush, Supertramp, ELO, Pink Floyd and Annie Lennox who would begin a profound power over Raquela’s writing style.  Later it was dance artists like Madonna, New Order, Aqua, Deee-Lite and American New Wave group, the B-52's.  To her, it was the German Euro-trance band, 'Groove Coverage' that was the closet to writing anything 'theatrically' than any other dance group before her.

In addition to Dance music, RAQUELA has proudly appeared on some of the world’s biggest stages. She enjoyed working alongside celebrities like Sara Ramirez (Grey's Anatomy), Carol Burnet, Cloris Leachman, Bernadette Peters, Toni Collette, Don Rickels, Elaine Stritch, Chita Rivera, Angela Bassett, Joan Rivers, and Tom Bosely. (…to name a few)

“Before there was Lady Gaga, there was… RAQUELA!”

Thanks to the successful release of Raquela’s 1999 award winning album, “Confessions of the Disco Diva”, she officially earned the title “1st Lady” of Theatrical Dance-Pop!

RAQUELA's powerhouse vocals have gotten her seen opening for legendary dance artists like Judy Torres and George Lamond, including Grammy artist, Little Louie Vega.

RAQUELA has worked alongside many world renowned producers, like Chris “The Greek” Panaghi and the legendary, MICKEY Mixin' OLIVER with the release of, "NOTHIN' MORE 2 GIVE" that received Billboard Magazine's "Break-Out" for Hot New Club Play.  Today, Raquela can be seen in over 100 million homes, co-hosting and performing in the new dance variety television series called, “Intensi-T TV” filmed out of Las Vegas. Check her out on DirecTV (ch. 354) and DISH Network (ch. 9396/9407)

http://intensi-t.tv

Currently RAQUELA is in the studio, working alongside producer greats like Steely M., Cary August, Keith Kemper, Matt Sietz, DJP, LA Rush and Qubiq. Her worldwide release for the remake of Taylor Dayne’s, “TELL IT TO MY HEART” is due out sometime in February 2010 on CAPP Records, “Best Of 80's Dance, Volume 3 - #1 80's Dance Club Hits Remixed” available in the U.S. on iTunes now!

RAQUELA played a key role in launching Children’s Theater companies, HIV/AIDS charity benefits and USO show acts.

RAQUELA played a key role in the launching of two Children’s Theater companies, many HIV/AIDS charity benefits and a USO show act.  RAQUELA is currently a member of ASCAP, AEA and The Grammy's (NARAS).  She also teaches voice privately and writes for IMRadio.com as a monthly feature columnist.