See also: Sosa

Haydée Mercedes Sosa San Miguel de Tucumán, (July 9th 1935 -), is a Chanteuse better known Argentine under the name of Mercedes Sosa . Very popular in all the Latin America, it is called Negra (the Black one) by its admirors.

It started to sing very early, and as of the 15 years age, it gained a contest in a radio station.

It was then implied in the movement named the nueva cancion , and recorded its first album Canciones idiot Fundamento , a collection of folksongs Argentinas.

She since was an immense success. Its voice, recognizable between all, interpreted innumerable songs resulting from the folklore, or more recent compositions, sometimes written specifically for it. She also interpreted in a way very moving the songs by the Chilean artist Violeta Parra, and those of Atahualpa Yupanqui, author and Argentinian type-setter.

She had to exile herself with Paris, then with Madrid, fleeing the dictatorial mode of her country, after the coup d'etat of Jorge Videla.

She is turned over to Argentina in 1982, a few months before the fall of the military regime, and organized a great concert with the Opera of Buenos Aires, with many other artists. The recording in this concert is one of its most important discs.

Since, it continues to interpret works of the authors of yesterday and today. She collaborates with Argentinian artists like León Gieco, Charly García, Antonio Tarragó Ros, Rodolfo Mederos and Fito Páez, or other artists of Latin America like Milton Nascimento, and Silvio Rodríguez.

She is ambassador of good will for UNESCO in Latin America and in the Caribbean.

External bonds

• Official site of Mercedes Sosa