“La Negra”,the singing voice of South America, has died at age 74. She was a powerful presence, and even at the end of her life produced an album that has been nominated for several Latin Grammys.
I have no idea who this person is but I would like to put the name Mercedes out there. It’s my favorite aunt’s name and I’d like to see it used more.
One of my favorite artists… Amusing, for me, found out about her death through Facebook.
Really powerful voice. I recommend some the songs she sings for people learning Spanish. Loud, clear, little or no slang, nice rhythm, not fast.
Sigh Too bad I won’t be able to hear her sing a live performance.
In power and clarity, she approaches Amalia Rodriguez, the late Portuguese fado diva, whose voice could bring crowds to tears. Her song “Gracias a la Vida” is a beautiful piece.
I’ve heard of Amalia, and while her voice was good, I really don’t like fado, so unfortunately I don’t have her songs.
“Gracias a la Vida” was written (and sung) by Violeta Parra, but Mercedes’s interpretation is one of the best covers of that song. Interestingly, to me, such a powerful song about life… was written by someone who later committed suicide (Parra).
This is my favorite song by her, “Todo Cambia.”
The song starts out slow, but builds and builds until by the end the hairs on your arm and the back of your neck are standing up. Goosebump-inducing. I actually have no idea what it’s about, I’m just going by the music and her powerful voice and emotion.
I wonder when they’ll make a movie about Mercedes. She was one of those artists who were harassed and even arrested for her defiance toward the Argentinian military dictatorship.
Here’s just a little bit from a biography (if anyone didn’t read the OP’s link):
I came in to post this, but saw that you beat me to it. I also found out about her death on Facebook.
I had tickets to see Mercedes in Chicago many many years ago, but she took ill and had to cancel the tour. I had always hoped I could see her another time, but it didn’t happen.
*Todo cambia *is also not her song, but she definitely has THE best cover of that song.
I was going to post that Todo cambia is tied with Gracias a la vida for my favorite song.
Equipoise, a quick summary is this: The singer in this piece is in exile, missing his/her country. According to this voice, everything changes in this world. Seasons, personalities, even the singer in exile. The only thing that DOES NOT change (per song) is the love the singer feels for his/her love, country, culture, especially when the last two are in dire straits.
As someone who lives outside of what she considers her homeland, that song sends shivers down my spine everytime. Similarly, Mercedes Sosa (and others) have sung this piece during military dictatorships or political turmoils in their countries.
You don’t need to like fado to appreciate the talent of Amalia (although it helps). She was one of THE greatest voices the planet has ever heard. We were fortunate to see one of her last concerts when we lived in Lisbon. Her voice wasn’t up to par anymore, but she blew the place away. It didn’t hurt that she had probably the best arranger to ever come out of Portugal and a killer backup musician.
Mercedes Sosa and I share the same birthplace: San Miguel de Tucumán. It’s funny, she has always been a presence in my life and just now I realize how much she has affected us.
Most of the songs she sang (if not all) were composed by others: she made them her own and she made them universal, that’s why she is so famous in latin america.
My favourite song by Mercedes is “I only ask god”. I swear that one could have been composed by Bob Dylan.
But it was composed by León Gieco. 
Isn’t he one of yours, too? 
Chefguy, I have heard songs of Amalia. I think I used to have one of her songs on my computer years ago (old one). I just don’t listen to her much because I don’t like the genre she sang in. From what I heard, she did have a good voice.
Still, I’m slightly biased and like Mercedes Sosa’s more.
Leon Gieco is from New York and Bob Dylan from Buenos Aires: Great artists belong to all of us