Elizabeth Benitez

Elizabeth Benitez was born in El Paso, TX. She started as a singer at the age of 13 years old in Juarez Mexico. Later Elizabeth continued as a vocalist and bass player, in some of the best night clubs in Ciudad Juarez and El Paso. Meanwhile studying guitar and vocal technique with teachers Aquiles Valdez and her brother, Carlos Benitez (most important classical guitar players in the North of Mexico), Juan Arteta (jazz guitarist and vocal teacher) and Emilio Alejandro Verdugo, versatile guitarist and singer.

Elizabeth Benitez has participated in music contest “Festival OTI ’89 El Paso, TX.” And made it to the final. She has opened shows in night clubs to many famous Mexican artists such as Manuel “Loco” Valdes, Eugenio Derbez, Jorge Falcon, Carlos Cuevas, Leonorilda Ochoa, Gilberto Gless, Memo Rios, Manoella Torres, Maria Del Sol, and many more.

Furthermore, Elizabeth has been invited to sing in “Festival Internacional de Guitarra de Cd. Juarez”, singing along side of well-known Argentinean guitarist Juan Falu and with best rock guitarists of the border singing Pink Floyd’s music. Also, she has performed at the “Festival Internacional Chihuahua” (FICH) with folklorists Libertad America; Tango Festival at Cultural Center Paso Del Norte, International Border Ball (meeting of councils of the world in USA) with the Alliance Française of El Paso, and Hispanic Heritage at EPCC. Elizabeth has sung many events with United Healthcare, the American Anthem for the Electric Co. of El Paso. As well as working for restaurants like Julio’s Café Corona for 8 years. Finally, Elizabeth continues to pass on her talent by giving private singing lessons and vocal coaching to aspiring singers around El Paso as well as singing for many private and public events as a soloist, or with bands like Azucar and Essencia.

That being said, while living in Ciudad Juarez she lead her band in Mision de Los Lagos, “Grupo Amigos” for special events like weddings, concerts, masses, etc. She also worked in the Riviera Maya near Cancun Mexico in All Inclusive Hotels and Resorts Riu Palace Mexico, Riu Palace Riviera Maya and Riu Playacar. In Mexico City, she worked at Crown Plaza Hotel, and private and public events.

Finally, Elizabeth Benitez sings a broad spectrum of genres like jazz standards, bossa nova, bolero, ballads, salsa, cumbia, Mexican folk, tango, etc. Her variety in performing in different genres and languages such as Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese has led her to recording a CD with “Grupo Amigos”, and a bolero jazz CD with well known local pianist, arranger and composer Fernando Lechuga.