Chavela Vargas was a Mexican singer and songwriter who is best known for her passionate renditions of Mexican rancheras and her pioneering role in popularizing them in Latin America. She was born Isabel Vargas Lizano on April 17, 1919 in Costa Rica.
Vargas began her career in Mexico in the 1940s, singing in small bars and clubs in the Mexican countryside. She was soon discovered by popular Mexican singer Lucha Reyes, who became her mentor and encouraged her to pursue a career in music.
In the 1950s, Vargas’s career began to take off. She was invited to join the popular Mexican band Los Panchos and began to tour around Mexico and Latin America. She was known for her powerful and emotional performances, and her songs quickly became popular.
In the 1960s, Vargas moved to Madrid, Spain, where her career began to soar. She recorded several albums and her songs quickly became hits in Spain, Latin America and the United States. She also became an icon of the LGBT community in Madrid, famously wearing a signature black pantsuit and hat.
By the 1970s, Vargas had become an international star. She was invited to perform at the White House for President Richard Nixon, and she was featured on the cover of Time Magazine. She continued to record new albums and tour around the world.
In the 1980s, Vargas began to focus more on her personal life. She moved back to Mexico and began to study philosophy and religion. She also became an advocate for LGBT rights, and she publicly announced her homosexuality.
Vargas continued to record and perform until her death in 2012. She was honored with many awards for her music, including a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
Chavela Vargas was an iconic singer and songwriter who was beloved by millions of fans around the world. She is remembered for her powerful and emotional performances and her pioneering role in popularizing Mexican rancheras. She will forever remain an icon of Latin American music.
