Ana Torroja

Ana Torroja Fungairiño, 3rd Marchioness of Torroja (born 28 December 1959) is a Spanish singer and aristocrat. She was the lead singer of the pop trio Mecano, considered one of the most popular pop bands from Spain during the 1980s and 1990s. Mecano split in 1998, and she embarked on a solo career.

Early years

Torroja is the eldest of six siblings: Celia, Yago, Laura, Javier, and Carlos. Her father, José Antonio Torroja, 2nd Marquess of Torroja, was a prestigious civil engineer, as was her grandfather, Eduardo Torroja Miret, 1st Marquess of Torroja, and perhaps the world's leading expert in concrete construction of his time. Her mother, María del Carmen Fungairiño Bringas, a nurse and homemaker to whom Ana was very close, was the sister of the well-known and controversial prosecutor Eduardo Fungairiño. She died on September 26, 1985, when Ana was twenty-four years old and Mecano was at the height of its success.

Career

Ana Torroja met José María Cano while studying economics at university. The two became good friends, and José María soon introduced her to his younger brother, Nacho. After hearing Ana sing José María's guitar compositions, Nacho suggested that the three form a band. In 1981, at 22 years old she became the vocalist of Mecano.