Corina Carrera

CARRERA, Corina, 72, a native of Tampa, passed away Friday, May 20, 2011,after a long respiratory illness. She was surrounded by her family, friends and fans. As a teenager, Corina became a legendary singer, appearing often at Ybor's Columbia Restaurant, many area night clubs and on the popular "Spanish Half-Hour" TV program broadcast locally on WFLA- TV in the 50s. She opened the original Siboney Room at the Columbia, along with owner Cesar Gonzmart and his Continental Orchestra. Corina did two musical variety shows in San Juan, Puerto Rico, The Goya Show, televised throughout South America in the 70s. She also traveled to South America touring with the La Sonora Mantanzera, singing at venues throughout the continent. She sang with the well known exiled Cuban band at the Spanish Riviera Club to a packed audience in the late 80s. Two of her concerts in the 1990s, at the then Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, to packed audiences, drew great reviews from the media. Her last public concert was at the Center in 1998. She was predeceased by a son, Michael L. Carrera. She is survived by her son, Ernest Paul Carrera; husband, Ernest Carrera; a granddaughter, Angela Michael Carrera, 11; sister, Sylvia Barbeito and her husband, Nelson; and various nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Monday, May 23, at Boza & Roel, 4730 N. Armenia Ave., with a Catholic wake service at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, at St Lawrence Catholic Church, with interment to follow at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park.