Singer-songwriter Rebekah Del Rio, who gained cinematic recognition for her haunting performance of “Llorando” in David Lynch’s 2001 film “Mulholland Drive,” died June 23 at her residence in Los Angeles. She was 57 years old.
The Los Angeles Coroner’s Office confirmed Del Rio’s death, though no cause of death has been disclosed. Her nephew Dan Coronado announced her passing on Facebook June 25, expressing gratitude that his family had recently spent time with her on Father’s Day.
Del Rio was born July 10, 1967, in Chula Vista, California, and began performing in San Diego before moving to Los Angeles in 1989 to pursue her career. She later relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where she secured a country record deal with Giant Records based on her recording of “Llorando,” a Spanish-language cover of Roy Orbison’s “Crying.”
Her connection to Lynch began in the mid-1990s when their mutual CAA agent Brian Loucks introduced them. During their first meeting, Lynch asked Del Rio to perform “Llorando” and secretly recorded her performance. This recording became the foundation for the pivotal Club Silencio scene in “Mulholland Drive,” which Lynch was developing from a rejected ABC pilot into a feature film.
The Club Silencio sequence represents a crucial turning point in Lynch’s surrealist narrative. Del Rio’s character performs the emotionally charged song before fainting and collapsing, revealing she had been lip-syncing. The scene shows the film’s leads, Naomi Watts and Laura Harring, moved to tears while watching the performance from a theater balcony.
Despite the scene’s premise of lip-syncing, Del Rio performed the song live during every take of filming. She explained to IndieWire in 2022 that she sang along with each take because she needed to produce the authentic vibrato in her throat for the audience to see. She also wanted Watts and Harring to experience the live performance while they filmed their reactions.
The memorable “Mulholland Drive” performance launched Del Rio into the film industry. Director Richard Kelly cast her in his 2006 science fiction film “Southland Tales,” where she performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the apocalyptic finale. Her vocals also appeared on soundtracks for “Sin City,” “Man on Fire” and “Streets of Legend.”
Del Rio’s collaboration with Lynch continued throughout the filmmaker’s career. She appeared in the 2017 Showtime revival series “Twin Peaks: The Return,” performing “No Stars” alongside musician Moby during one of the show’s signature roadhouse sequences. The song was based on a poem written by Lynch. She also participated in touring performances of The Red Room Orchestra Plays the Music of Twin Peaks in recent years.
Del Rio’s musical career extended beyond her Lynch collaborations. Her discography includes the albums “Nobody’s Angel” (1994), “All My Life/Toda Mi Vida” (2003) and “Love Hurts Love Heals” (2011). She also released singles including “No Stars,” “Hallelujah” and “Adios,” with her most recent release in 2021.
In a 2022 interview with The Guardian, Del Rio reflected on her vocal style, indicating that her voice naturally conveyed sadness because she carried grief within herself. This grief stemmed partly from personal tragedy: her son Phillip C. DeMars died of cancer in 2009 at age 23.
Del Rio faced additional hardships in recent years. A botched medical biopsy for a skin tag left her unable to climb stairs, forcing her to leave her home. She told The Guardian that she had to sleep in a converted rented van on the street during this difficult period.
Less than two weeks before her death, Del Rio performed live at a charity screening of “Mulholland Drive” at the Philosophical Research Society in Los Angeles. This performance demonstrated her continued dedication to her craft and connection to the film that brought her recognition.
Del Rio’s death comes five months after Lynch died in January at age 78 from complications of emphysema. Her nephew Coronado remembered her talent in his Facebook tribute, writing: “Thank you for sharing your beautiful gift with the world Tia.”
Del Rio is survived by her extended family, including her nephew and his children, who experienced her live singing performance just weeks before her death. Her legacy remains tied to her unforgettable contribution to one of Lynch’s most celebrated films and her continued collaboration with the director throughout his career.
