Born August 19 in Kingsville, Texas, this petite frosted-hair bundle of dynamite stands 5 feet 3 inches, but she can belt out a song that makes your ears ring. The Leo, who was raised in Kingsville, lost her father, her rock, at the age of 23.

The acknowledged and undisputed queen of Onda Tejana music credits Milicent Wiley, her choral director, with deciding to enter the music field.

Canales, a former ambassador for Budweiser. Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, Missouri is a very private person.

As a prominent entertainer, Canales has been in the public spotlight. Her fans cannot get enough of her. Anything she does is a new item. Fans go as far as wanting to know what she said, did or wore at a function.

Then with the exception of a 1987 album release and a 6-month stint as a disc-jockey in Houston, Canales virtually disappeared from the Tejano music circuit for 3 years. Her absence from the Tejano music circuit sparked off various rumors.

Regardless of the topic, those rumors served a purpose during my absence," Canales said. "As they say, even bad publicity is good press. At least it keeps your name alive. When people stop talking about me, then I'll start worrying about it."

Often compared to and referred to as the Barbara Streisand of the Onda Tejana, Canales can do no wrong. Her fans patiently and loyally awaited her return to the recording studio and stage. Canales is the only female artist who has proven she can take a Sabatical and resume her musical career without skipping a beat, without losing popularity, without losing a fan or losing an award.

Since she won her first "Female Entertainer and Female Vocalist of the Year" award in 1981, Canales won "Female Artist, Female Entertainer and Female Vocalist of the Year" up to 1988; and was nominated in the same categories all the way to 1990.

Now that Canales has returned to the concert circuit, it seems her absence has made her fans' hearts' grow fonder and more appreciative of her comeback. This is evident as they line up to welcome the return of their queen.

The living-legend's goal is to obtain a bachelors degree in Communication Disorders with a minor in Psychology. Needless to say, because of her return to school, many of her friends have also decided to go back to school and enhance their academic attributes. She describes them as rough pearls who just needed a little polish.

MUSICAL CAREER

mid '73     Made her stage debut with Los Unicos shortly
            after graduating from high school.

1973-75     Performed with El Conjunto Bernal

1975        After Los Unicos broke up, Snowball, Balde Munoz
            and Oscar Soliz enlisted Juan Rodrigues and formed Snowball &
            Co. with Canales as lead vocalist. Little did they realize she
            would soon become "La Reina de la Onda Tejana."

1978        After Snowball left, the name changed to Felicidad.

1981        Once her popularity reached a peak, they decided
            to change their name again to Laura Canales & Encanto, where
            they worked the duration of their contract.

1985        Canales' last performance with Encanto was at
            Billy Bob's in Ft. Worth "I just needed a little time off,"
            Canales said.

1988        Canales went to work as a disc jockey for KYST,
            in Houston, Texas. After 6 months as a disc jockey, she decided
            that she didn't want to do this sort of work.

1989        Following a long spell, Capitol EMI signed Canales
            to a 5-year contract and teamed up with Los Fabulosos 4 to promote
            her new material.

1992        Canales decided to go back to school in Kingsville,
            her hometown, at Texas A&M University.

1994        Canales signed an exclusive contract with Fonovisa
            and is looking forward to new projects that include up and coming
            videos.

CANALES' STAND ON EDUCATION

"The realization to go back to school came when I read about the high suicide rate in teenagers. I never realized teenagers would even consider suicide as an option. "Canales said. Her main concern was the kind of direction these kids were getting at home, or lack there of.

Canales also realizes that many of her fans idolize the ground she walks on and wants to play a role in their staying in school and continuing their education into college. "Education should be a priority in everyone lives, but most especially, to my fellow Hispanics." Canales said.

Canales, now a Senior at Texas A&M University, in Kingsville, Texas, hopes to graduate in May of 1997.