Chavela Vargas

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Mexico City, Mexico (1961 – present)

Isabel Vargas Lizano (born 17 April 1919, died August 5, 2012) was a Costa Rican-born Mexican singer. She is especially known for her rendition of Mexican rancheras genre - a folkloric musical genre widely popular in Mexico - but she is also recognized for her contribution to other popular Latin American song genres. She has been an influential interpreter in the Americas and Europe, muse to figures such as Pedro Almodóvar, hailed for her haunting performances, and called “la voz áspera de la ternura”, the rough voice of tenderness.

Isabel Vargas Lizano was born in San Joaquín de Flores, Costa Rica. She goes by Chavela, which is a nickname for Isabel. At only 14, she fled her native country due to lack of musical career opportunities, seeking refuge in Mexico, where an entertainment industry was burgeoning. For many years she sang on the streets but in her thirties she became a professional singer. In her youth, she dressed as a man, smoked cigars, drank heavily, carried a gun and was known for her characteristic red jorongo, which she still dons in performances.

Her first album, Noche de Bohemia (Bohemian Night), was released in 1961 with the professional support of José Alfredo Jiménez, one of the foremost singer/songwriters of the Mexican cancion ranchera. Vargas has recorded over eighty albums thereafter. She was hugely successful during the 1950s, 1960s and the first half of the 70s, touring in Mexico, the United States, France and Spain and was close to many prominent artists and intellectuals of the time, including Juan Rulfo, Agustín Lara, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Dolores Olmedo and José Alfredo Jiménez.

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  • oasis_1979

    un aplauso para usted Chavela

    18 Jan 9:42pm Reply
  • shey_e

    Quién como tú, Chavela. <3

    18 Jan 7:53am Reply
  • s_jam

    Such a loss Didn't understand the words. But her music spoke to all.

    1 Oct 2012 Reply
  • JulianGoma

    "Yo no me voy a morir porque soy una chamana y nosotros no nos morimos, nosotros trascendemos." Chavela Vargas [4]

    24 Sep 2012 Reply
  • strajnic

    Review of Chavela's album on my blog: http://diaryofmusiceclectic.blogspot.com/2012/08/13th-of-august-chavela-vargas-30-exitos.html

    13 Aug 2012 Reply
  • moonpix_

    R.I.P. Chavela.

    13 Aug 2012 Reply
  • strajnic

    I didn't know she died a week ago. She was the greatest singer for me. Rest In Peace, Chavela, you'll be missed more and more as time passes.

    12 Aug 2012 Reply
  • HeroinVelvet

    Es la primera vez que se me genera interés por un artista después de su muerte. Los demás me daban igual. Y sí, inconscientemente fue por la atención que se le ha generado estos días, pero no creo que haya mal momento para comenzar a apreciar a Chavela. Esta vez no me arrepiento de nada.

    9 Aug 2012 Reply
  • promise_mm

    "From God I ask that wherever I go one day, that you come to greet me and I will welcome all of you." Chavela said, "Every one of you let me remembers that he wants to, let everyone say what they felt and how they live with me" .... beautiful .. Rest in peace

    8 Aug 2012 Reply
  • wOoDy__

    :_( http://youtu.be/caQED2oQtfk <3

    8 Aug 2012 Reply
  • VMuro

    La barca en que me iré....

    8 Aug 2012 Reply
  • andrezilli

    "Yo no me voy a morir porque soy una chamana y nosotros no nos morimos, nosotros trascendemos." Chavela Vargas [3]

    7 Aug 2012 Reply
  • Flashward

    Viva Chavela Vargas!!! <3

    7 Aug 2012 Reply
  • Rancido

    que pena me dio esta noticia..se ha ido una grande de verdad..

    7 Aug 2012 Reply
  • riot_grrrl77

    Descansa en Paz

    7 Aug 2012 Reply
  • volta_XD

    Descansa en Paz

    7 Aug 2012 Reply
  • puticlubber

    en el último trago te fuiste.....y quedé errante anhelando oír tu voz en directo

    6 Aug 2012 Reply
  • denaon

    Descanse en paz

    6 Aug 2012 Reply
  • Eli_Teixeira

    "Yo no me voy a morir porque soy una chamana y nosotros no nos morimos, nosotros trascendemos." Chavela Vargas [2] Que descanse en paz señora. ♥

    6 Aug 2012 Reply
  • callitjjazz

    gracias chamana! fuiste el canto rebelado contra el opresor del latinoamericano!

    6 Aug 2012 Reply
  • All 150 shouts