Chavela Vargas

The Most Excellent
Chavela Vargas
Vargas, 2009
Born
María Isabel Anita Carmen de Jesús Vargas Lizano

(1919-04-17)17 April 1919
San Joaquín de Flores, Heredia Province, Costa Rica
Died5 August 2012(2012-08-05) (aged 93)
Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • actress
Years active1961–2012
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • acoustic guitar
LabelsRCA Mexicana

Chavela Vargas (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃaˈβela ˈβaɾɣas]; born María Isabel Anita Carmen de Jesús Vargas Lizano[a]; 17 April 1919 – 5 August 2012) was a Costa Rican-born Mexican singer, she gained widespread recognition for her distinctive interpretations of Mexican rancheras. However, her impact extends beyond this genre, encompassing various styles within popular Latin American music.

An influential interpreter, Vargas left a legacy on both the Americas and Europe. Notably, she served as a muse to influential figures like Pedro Almodóvar. Renowned for her poignant and captivating performances, she earned the title "la voz áspera de la ternura", translated as 'the rough voice of tenderness'.[1] Her accolades include a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic for her contributions to music.


Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).

  1. ^ Boccanera, Jorge, Entrelineas: Dialogos con Jorge Boccanera, ed. Mario José Grabivker (Buenos Aires: Ediciones instituto movilizador fondos cooperativos C.L., 1999)