'Sonia Astacio Downs was born in Chicago and is the 7th child of a Dominican American family. Her parents moved to the United States in 1955. As a child, she found her love for music singing with her siblings in church. Initially, her first love was Jazz music, from the likes of Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. But after she heard Muddy Waters and The Rolling Stones’ “Baby Please Don’t Go”(Live at the Checkerboard Recording) the Blues captivated her heart and soul- she never looked back.   

Sonia joined the NuBlu Band in 2005 and is now an honorary member of the group. Sonia infuses her Afro-Latina ancestry when she performs blues standards in Spanish. Currently, she leads The Sonia Astacio Downs band and is working on an album. Her boisterous voice, entertaining persona, and effortless talent has enchanted audiences across the world. After 35 years in the corporate world, she says her retirement plan “is to sing the Blues to whoever will listen." She truly is a messenger of the Chicago Electric Blues.'