Chavela Vargas, born Isabel Vargas Lizano on April 17, 1919 in San Joaquin de
Flores, Costa Rica, became one of the most famous singers in the history of
Latin American music. Seeking a career in music, she left Costa Rica when she
was a teenager and relocated to Mexico, a country with a bigger entertainment
industry. She was a street performer for over a decade, not becoming a
professional performer until she was in her thirties. Her signature stage wear
earned her the nickname The Lady in the Red Poncho. She became known throughout
the Spanish-speaking world for her interpretat...