Mercedes Sosa

Mercedes Sosa (July 9, 1935 – October 4, 2009) was an Argentine singer who achieved international fame as a leading exponent of nueva canción, a genre of Latin American protest music. She was often referred to as "The Voice of Latin America" and was known for her strong political activism and advocacy for social justice.

Born in San Miguel de Tucumán, Sosa began singing in local festivals and competitions as a teenager. In 1957, she moved to Buenos Aires, where she began her professional career. Her early recordings were influenced by traditional Argentine folk music, but she soon began to incorporate elements of rock, jazz, and other genres into her work.

Sosa's music was often controversial, as she used her platform to speak out against social injustice, poverty, and political repression. She was a vocal supporter of the Cuban Revolution and the Sandinista movement in Nicaragua, and she was often targeted by right-wing governments in Latin America.

In 1979, Sosa was forced to flee Argentina after receiving death threats from the military junta that ruled the country. She spent the next several years in exile, living in various countries in Europe and Latin America. She returned to Argentina in 1982, after the fall of the junta, and continued to tour and record throughout the rest of her life.

Sosa released over 40 albums during her career, and she won numerous awards, including seven Latin Grammy Awards. She was also a recipient of the prestigious Konex Award in Argentina.

Sosa died of lung cancer in Buenos Aires in 2009. She was 74 years old. She is remembered as one of the most important and influential singers in Latin American history.

Here are some additional facts about Mercedes Sosa:

• She was married three times and had two children.
• She was a close friend of the Chilean singer-songwriter Víctor Jara, who was murdered by the Pinochet dictatorship in 1973.
• She was a supporter of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, a group of women who protested the disappearance of their children during the Dirty War in Argentina.
• In 2000, she was awarded the Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest honor that the Mexican government can bestow on a foreigner.
• She was the subject of a documentary film, Mercedes Sosa: The Voice of Latin America, which was released in 2009.