Veronica Vazquez—known simply as Veronica—came out of the Bronx with a voice built in the clubs, made for the dance floor, and rooted in real R&B soul. In the mid-to-late ’90s, she became one of the defining “club divas,” moving effortlessly between house, Hip-Hop, and freestyle while her records lit up NYC nightlife and LGBTQ+ dance floors alike.
Signed early to Jellybean Benitez’s Jellybean Recordings, she helped define that era where underground emotion met mainstream club energy. Tracks like “Someone to Hold,” “Release Me,” and “Rise” didn’t just chart—they stayed in rotation, becoming part of the culture that raised them.
Her debut V… As in Veronica [1995], guided by Rodney Jerkins and Dallas Austin, introduced a vocalist who could sit between grit and polish without losing either. Follow-ups like Rise and her self-titled album kept her voice locked into the evolution of ’90s dance and R&B.
Beyond the mic, she stepped into theater and made a lasting mark portraying Selena Quintanilla—first in Selena Forever and later in Selena: A Musical Celebration of Life—bringing heart, respect, and presence to an icon’s legacy on stage.
Today, Veronica continues to move between music, theater, and family life alongside her husband, Tony-nominated actor Christopher Jackson—still grounded, still performing, and still carrying that original Bronx-to-clubroom energy that made her voice unmistakable from the start.
Parlé Mag: Coming out of the Bronx in the mid-’90s, you stepped into a scene where R&B, Hip-Hop, and house all collided. What did that era feel like from your side of the mic?
Veronica: I swear, I think that was one of the best eras in music—all my favorite genres! It was easy to have my foot in each of those doors because I had so much love for each of them. I grew up in the clubs in NYC, so doing a remix album felt completely authentic to me—a homage to my teenage self and all the DJs I loved.
Parlé Mag: Your debut V… As in Veronica had that polished but gritty mix. Working with producers like Rodney Jerkins and Dallas Austin early on, did you realize how special that moment was?
Veronica: I surely did not, lol. I felt so lucky to work with Dallas, but with Rodney, I was the first signed artist he had worked with! We were just kids. I used to sleep over at his house in Jersey—he was 15 and I was 18! I still consider him family today. He was immensely talented, and I always hoped he would get to work with all the greats. Watching his career take off was something I truly enjoyed!
Parlé Mag: “Let Me Go… Release Me” and “Someone to Hold” weren’t just songs—they became part of club culture. What does it feel like knowing those records still live on dance floors decades later?
Veronica: I feel incredibly blessed! I love that there’s a new generation listening to my music and loving it. The fact that they still live on in the clubs makes me incredibly happy.
Parlé Mag: The club scene in the ’90s had a certain freedom to it, especially within LGBTQ+ spaces. How did that energy shape you as an artist and as a person?
Veronica: It’s ingrained in my very soul. I grew up in the gay clubs, I’ve performed in LGBTQ balls and at events with the House of Extravaganza. That’s why the transition into dance music felt so good and easy for me. I love that “Someone to Hold” has been referred to as a gay anthem. I have so much love for the LGBTQ+ community!
Parlé Mag: You transitioned from the club circuit to musical theater, even stepping into the role of Selena. What did that experience unlock in you creatively that music alone didn’t?
Veronica: I did musical theater as a child and majored in it in college. I had always wanted to do theater professionally, as I am a trained actress, singer, and dancer. Playing Selena was an honor and an homage to her and her family. I’m actually back doing theater now, in In the Heights in Los Angeles at the moment!
Parlé Mag: Being part of early readings for In the Heights before it became what the world knows today—did you sense it was something groundbreaking at the time?
Veronica: It was groundbreaking for me because I had never seen anything like it. I never thought a Latino story would be received the way it was—that it would be so beloved and that the world would embrace it and relate to it. I was incredibly lucky to be in that room as one of the first Ninas, and then the first Daniela, which I am actually playing right now. A full-circle moment. My heart is incredibly full.
Parlé Mag: You’ve lived multiple artistic lives—recording artist, stage performer, actress. Do you see them as separate chapters or all part of the same story?
Veronica: They are all chapters in the book that is Veronica, (laughs). I have so much love for the arts. I plan to add more titles—maybe “director,” “author,” and “producer.”
Parlé Mag: After stepping away from New York for a time and then returning, how did that distance change your relationship with music and the industry?
Veronica: I feel like I was able to get right back into the groove of things. I was still performing in clubs while I was doing Selena out in L.A. I never wanted to step away from music, just to add theater back into my life.
Parlé Mag: Your cover of “I’m in Love” brought a classic into a whole new space. What draws you to reinterpreting songs and making them your own?
Veronica: I LOVE a good cover. And “I’m in Love” is such a classic, feel-good song—it was a no-brainer. I’m considering some other classics to cover!
Parlé Mag: You’ve balanced career, motherhood, and advocacy—especially after your son’s autism diagnosis. How has that journey reshaped your purpose, both on and off stage?
Veronica: I stepped away for a long time to take care of my son and make sure he had the services and therapies he needed. I thought I would be able to return sooner, but his needs changed as he grew, and I knew his quality of life depended on my presence and consistent attention. I’m so glad I dedicated that time to him. My son is doing amazingly well. Now that he’s older and doing so well, I feel like I can get back to doing what I love.
Parlé Mag: There’s a certain resilience in your career—you’ve moved with the times without losing yourself. What kept you grounded when the industry shifted around you?
Veronica: My family and my fans! I am so lucky that the industry has somewhat shifted and that at the fine age of 51, I can still have a career to return to. I look forward to creating in different ways, and also picking up where I left off!
Parlé Mag: When you look back at the clubs, the stages, the film sets, and your life today, what do you want people to truly understand about Veronica beyond the music?
Veronica: This is a tough one! I guess I want people to know that I have many passions under the creative umbrella and have always found an outlet to be creative, even as a mother—whether it’s helping my kids succeed, creating music, or putting on a good show. My creativity always finds a way. I do what feels good and what feels right in the moment. At the end of the day, though, it’s music that makes me happiest ❤️.
Visit Veronica’s official website: theofficialveronica.com
