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'Voice of Latin America' Mercedes Sosa Dead at 74

Argentine folk singer gave voice to disenfranchised under repressive regimes

By M. Morris, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 4, 2009 2:31 PM CDT

(Newser) – Mercedes Sosa, the Argentine folk singer who became a powerful voice of resistance to authoritarian Latin American regimes, died today in Buenos Aires. A leading light of the "nueva canción" (new song) movement that pushed for social justice in the 1960s and '70s, Sosa was 74. "It's hard to overestimate her popularity and importance as a standard-bearer of folk music and political engagement through folk music," an ethnomusicologist and Sosa scholar told the Washington Post.

Driven into exile in Europe in 1979, Sosa returned to Argentina in 1982 and enjoyed a career renaissance and enormous popularity that endured throughout her life. "La Negra," as she was known, always sang in Spanish. "Her undisputed talent, her honesty and her profound convictions leave a great legacy to future generations," her family said in a statement.

[Images (2)]

[Videos (1)]

Argentine singer Mercedes Sosa poses in her hometown of San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina, in this undated photo. (AP Photo/La Gaceta, file)

Argentine singer Mercedes Sosa, who died today at 74, poses for a photographer in this undated file photo in her hometown of San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina. (AP Photo/La Gaceta, file)

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A video tribute to Mercedes Sosa, "the Voice of Latin America," who died today at 74. (ejf04)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 3 comments

cochiserocks

Oct 5, 2009 11:03 AM CDT

Now your just being polemic!

PosterNutbag

Oct 5, 2009 5:28 AM CDT

Again, if you don't have anything nice to say, at least know what the words mean. Bing Crosby and Perry Como were crooners, her style of singing is of a completely different ilk.

PosterNutbag

Oct 5, 2009 4:58 AM CDT

What a great singer, she will be missed. the album "En Argentina" is great, I've never heard any other live album where the audience responds with such a fervent expression of love and gratitude after every song.

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entertainment • music • Latin America • Argentina • folk music • Mercedes Sosa • contralto • folk singer

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'Voice of Latin America' Mercedes Sosa Dead at 74