Contents
Mercedes Sosa
Giving Latin American folk song a powerful political and emotional voice.
Alfonsina y el Mar · Gracias a la Vida
- Born
- 9 July 1935
- Birthplace
- San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
- Died
- 4 October 2009
More people
Mercedes Sosa
Mercedes Sosa was an Argentine singer associated with the nuevo cancionero movement and a wide repertoire of Latin American song.
Early life
Tucumán
Grew up in a working-class family.
Early singing
Entered radio performance as a teenager.
Career
- 1960s
Folk movement
Helped establish nuevo cancionero.
- 1970s
International audience
Performed widely before leaving Argentina under repression.
- 1980s onward
Return
Resumed concerts in Argentina and continued international work.
Selected music
Alfonsina y el Mar
Made the song part of her signature repertoire.
Gracias a la Vida
Became a renowned interpreter of Violeta Parra’s song.
Cantora
Recorded collaborations with many artists.
Beyond work
Exile
Lived abroad during Argentina’s dictatorship.
Solidarity
Used her public platform for human rights.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Annemarie Heinrich. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
