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A little over three decades ago, one December evening, in Modesto, CA, an 18-month-old Effie Passero waddled over to the television in the living room of her house, pressed her palms against the screen playing a Christmas special, and began singing to the tune of Ave Maria.
That was enough for the child’s mother to stop whatever she had been doing and come running into the room to watch her daughter sing the mumbled Latin in perfect key. She must have known there was a star in her household waiting to be discovered. She must have known the world would get to meet Effie decades later, a voice so powerful and with such soulful quality to capture one’s attention immediately.
A trained opera singer, Passero’s vocal range has the ability to convey a wide array of emotions through her singing. Whether she’s belting out a heart-wrenching ballad or hitting the high notes with precision and control, Effie’s voice is always in command.
Passero possesses a vibrant personality that complements her commanding voice. But beneath the exterior of a resilient woman lies a young girl who entered the world without a frenulum linguae—a tiny membrane that separates the tongue from the floor of the mouth.
Many medical professionals said there was nothing to be done; Passero would grow up without eating properly, without indulging in the simple pleasure of licking ice cream. It wasn’t until her mother took her to a pediatrician, who grabbed a pair of sea scissors and cut Effie a tongue that her childhood was restored.
“Looks like you got a singer in your hand,” the pediatrician muttered while operating, listening to a screaming and crying girl, whose blaring matched a certain pitch.
With that taken care of, the journey of Effie Passero as a singer began.
“I feel singing was just kind of embedded in me; I don’t think I had a choice,” Effie shared with me the afternoon I sat down with her at a coffee shop on Basilio Badillo in Zona Romantica.
Passero considers herself fortunate to have parents who nurtured her love of art. They had faith in her, she said, they knew it was her destiny. Effie began taking voice and piano lessons at five and performed in a musical—Music Man—around the same time, bouncing around the stage as a little singing kid.
Effie’s life journey is reminiscent of many aspiring, and, at times struggling artists looking to make a name for themselves.
After spending five years in Fort Lauderdale, FL, after her parents had separated, the 11-year-old returned to Modesto, to be with her mother’s family of almond farmers.
From there, Passero left town for Anaheim, CA, to pursue an opera program at a college when she was 26. It was there, she said, that she discovered she truly enjoyed songwriting. Recognizing her passion, a friend living in Los Angeles suggested she move there and offered her a job as an assistant at his property management company, she added.
And It was there when—utterly amazed by her performance of the Billy Jean video she’d shared—the reboot of American Idol on ABC Television in 2018 found Effie. All it took was a single audition in Burbank, CA, and she was invited into the show. And while Passero’s American Idol adventure ended in April of that year, her roller-coaster journey into music had been set in motion which, in essence, is the true testament to this artist’s perseverance and resilience.
In December 2019, Effie recalled, a friend and the American Idol alum, David Hernandez, suggested doing a few shows in Mexico. A few months later—in March of 2020—Effie returned to Puerto Vallarta with yet another friend, Spencer Day, hoping to also perform in cities such as Guadalajara and Mexico City, and—according to her—text messages started appearing on everyone’s phones as soon as they crossed the border, informing that things were shutting down at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“No one knew what the f**k was going on,” Passero said. Her saying—quite frankly—resonated with what was in the minds of millions living through that period. “A week later, we were performing in front of an audience of eight people. Worse for singers having to worry about an airborne disease,” she smiled wryly.
Sitting across from me recalling a dark period of uncertainty, Effie expressed gratitude for the love and support she received from the Puerto Vallarta community: from Adriana Lopez from the Palm Cabaret for offering a place to stay, from Tracy Park from then Incanto, and from Brian Peters, aka Mama Tits. They were the first people, Passero said, to offer help.
“Mamma Tits would do online Zoom drag shows while Diego Guerrero and I sang in the background,” she recalled. “Brian would then give me money to go buy groceries.”
It was that sense of community and being part of a family that made Effie get rid of her car, and her apartment in Los Angeles after her friends had returned to the United States and stayed in Puerto Vallarta.
Today with her travels across the globe performing at packed halls and arenas, Passero feels the weight lifting off her shoulders as the plane comes down the mountains and she’s back home in this magical town.
Aside from spreading the joy of music in Puerto Vallarta with her mesmerizing vocals, as of late, Effie’s latest love affair has been with Postmodern Jukebox (PMJ), a rotating musical collective founded by a New York-based pianist, Scott Bradlee. Passero had met Scott in March of 2020 prior to returning to Mexico, and they had exchanged ideas about creating music videos.
And then, with the impending pandemic, everyone discovered how life had a way of taking one’s plans and throwing them back at their faces laughingly. Effie’s hopes and dreams of working with PMJ also came to a screeching halt until one day, when she received a nudge from her brother about the musical band again releasing video clips. That led to the singer reconnecting with Scott Bradlee and eventually traveling in February 2022 to tour with the band despite never having done that before.
“I mean, when you live on a bus with fourteen people, you have to learn to be considerate and respectful of other people’s boundaries such as quiet times and getting along with everybody,” Passero said. “But it’s been beautiful. Because of it, today I am a whole different person.”
Effie has greatly enjoyed touring the States with PMJ, but her love for the band deepened when she got to perform in front of a global audience traveling to Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, and several European nations.
“But the jet lags are real, man; the jet lags are real.”
And yet, things don’t end for Effie Passero here. The cosmic forces of the universe are aligning perfectly for this beloved diva.
Passero shared her excitement for joining another well-known duo of performing artists—Brandon and Clark James—and forming a band called Cello Voci. Their new album is slated to be released on October 11, 2024, Effie said, only a few days before the band performs at Carnegie Hall in New York on October 17, 2024.
Passero will then be back in town after touring with PMJ, in time for Cello Voci to perform at the Palm Cabaret in Puerto Vallarta on December 28-30 this year.
But wait, it gets better! In January, Effie will record her first solo album of original songs in Nashville, TN. According to her—there’s a side of her that she is looking forward to sharing with the world—a side inspired by the legendary American-Canadian singer-songwriter, Joni Mitchell.
In the end, no matter where she is, or does, Passero’s love for Puerto Vallarta is unwavering. Sharing her thoughts with me, she expressed humility in how P.V. always calls her back.
“It’s a beautiful place, and the people are warm and welcoming; I just love Mexico and everything about it,” said Effie, her eyes revealing the emotion beneath the surface. “Besides, I have my two cats. I can’t leave them behind.” She laughed.
Effie Passero’s journey as an artist has been one of resilience, passion, and relentless determination. From her early days discovering her vocal talent to her experiences on American Idol and her performances around the globe, Effie’s story is one of inspiration.
Embracing the support of the Puerto Vallarta community, I couldn’t help but feel that she’s found a sense of belonging that has become her home. With her commanding voice and captivating presence—that child with pressed hands on the television screen mimicking Ave Maria is carrying on enchanting audiences—leaving a lasting impact wherever her melodious journey takes her.
Esta publicación también está disponible en: English Español
