Mercedes Sosa (1935-2009) Argentine Female Singer

Haydes Mercedes Sosa, sometimes known as* La Negra (The Black) because of her darker completion and dark hair, was popular throughout Latin America and many other countries outside the region.

Her root in Argentina is Folk Music. She became one of the preeminent exponents of El Nuevo cancionero. With her first husband, Manuel Oscar Matus they were key players in the mid-60s.

She gave her voice to songs written by many Latin American songwriters. Her voice made people hail her as the* voice of the voiceless ones.*

After the military junta of Jorge Videl in 1976 she faced threats against her family. In 1979 after a concert in La Plata she was searched, arrested on stage along with her audience. She was released through international intervention.
Banned in her own country she moved first to Paris then to Madrid.

In 1982 she returned to Argentina from her exile in Europe

In her lifetime she sang with performers across several genres and generations, folk, opera, pop and rock. ( See blue writing on page 3 of notes).
She sang in the most prestigious buildings - Carnegie Hall and the Sistern Chapel to name just 2.
She received 8 Latin Grammy awards ( 2 posthumously)

Mercedes had a career which nearly spanned 6 decades. Aged 15, in 1950, she won a singing competition.
In later years she suffered from recurrent endocrine and respiratory problems. She was still singing in 2009, the year she died, from multi organ failure.

Her body was placed on display at the National Congress building in Buenos Aires for the public to pay their respects President Fermandez de Kirchner ordered 3 days of national mourning. Mercedes was cremated on 5th October.

She lived her 74 years to the fullest She had done practically everything she wanted, she didn’t have any type of barrier or any fear that limited her
* Fabian Matus - her son

Sources
Wikipedia
Rise: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi