Argentine folk legend Mercedes Sosa dead

The “Voice of America” has been forever silenced.

Folk singer Mercedes Sosa died on Sunday at the age of 74 due to liver, kidney and heart ailments. Her health had gradually debilitated over the past few days while she lay in intensive care of a Buenos Aires hospital. Despite vigils in her name and visits from her family and other Argentine musicians, Sosa’s health had “progressively worsened” according to doctors.

Born Haydée Mercedes Sosa in rural northwestern Argentina, Sosa was one of the leading figures of Latin America’s New Song movement which combined folk music with social awareness. It was the political messages in her songs that lead to her being severely harassed by Argentina’s rightist Dirty War junta and three-year exile in Europe. She would eventually return to her homeland to with open arms and the same massive popularity she received while performing abroad.

Sosa’s career has spanned nearly six decades and latest double-volume album was recently nominated for a Latin Grammy. Yet Sosa’s most famous tune was one penned decades ago by New Song movement writer Violeta Parra - "Gracias a la Vida" (Thanks to Life):

Rest in peace Mercedes; you will be sorely missed.
Online Sources- LAHT, Bloomberg, YouTube, The Latin Americanist, Washington Post