Born: 9 July 1935, Argentina
Died: 4 October 2009
Country most active: Argentina
Also known as: La Negra (“The Black One”)
Haydée Mercedes Sosa was an Argentine singer popular throughout Latin America and beyond. With roots in Argentine folk music, Sosa became one of the leading proponents of nueva canción, a genre that combines folk styles with social issue messages. Her repertoire including songs written by many Latin American songwriters, and she was called the “voice of the voiceless ones”.
Sosa performed in venues such as the Lincoln Center in New York City, the Théâtre Mogador in Paris and the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, as well as selling out shows in New York’s Carnegie Hall and the Roman Colosseum during the last decade of her life. Her career spanned more than 40 years and she won six Latin Grammy awards (2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011), including a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 and two posthumous Latin Grammy Award for Best Folk Album in 2009 and 2011. She won Argentina’s leading music award, the Premio Gardel in 2000. She also served as an ambassador for UNICEF.