Rebekah Del Rio, who sang 'Llorando' in David Lynch's 'Mulholland Drive,' dies at 57

USA Today

5 hours ago

Rebekah Del Rio, whose soulful performance of "Llorando" added new layers of poignancy to the David Lynch classic "Mulholland Drive," has died at 57.
Del Rio died in her Los Angeles home Monday, June 23, according to the office of the city's medical examiner, who confirmed the news to USA TODAY Friday, June 27.
Both the cause and manner of death were listed as deferred, meaning a deputy medical examiner completed an initial examination but required more studies and tests to make a final determination. The process could take several months.
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An up-and-coming singer-songwriter, Del Rio was discovered by Lynch in the '90s after their shared agent organized an introduction. At that point, she had already recorded "Llorando," a Spanish-language version of Roy Orbison's "Crying."
Lynch wrote the number into "Mulholland Drive," in a now-iconic scene that sees Del Rio in two-toned eyeshadow and a bedazzled tear, singing the heartbreaking anthem to lead stars Naomi Watts and Laura Harring, the sorrow echoing in an empty theater.
"There were many takes. And with every take, I sang along, because I felt I had to produce that same feeling with the vibrato in my throat so the audience could see it," Del Rio told IndieWire in 2022. "I also wanted the beautiful girls in the balcony, Laura Harring and Naomi Watts, to experience it live. They were present while I was doing my scene, so I sang to them."
Del Rio's music went on to be featured in several other Hollywood projects, including "Twin Peaks: The Return," another Lynch project, and the action movie "Sin City."