# Chavela Vargas

Chavela Vargas was a Costa Rican-born Mexican singer who became one of the most powerful and unconventional voices in the history of ranchera and bolero music, known for stripping songs of ornamentation and delivering them with raw emotional intensity. She lived openly as a lesbian woman at a time when such visibility was extremely rare, and her life and art made her an icon of authenticity and defiance. After a lengthy break due to alcoholism, she staged a remarkable comeback in the 1990s and continued performing until shortly before her death in 2012 at age 93.

## Quick Facts

- **Born:** April 17, 1919
- **Birthplace:** San Joaquín de Flores, Costa Rica
- **Nationality:** Mexican
- **Occupation:** street artist
- **Category:** Musicians
- **Also Known As:** La Chamana

## Overview

Chavela Vargas was a Costa Rican singer. She gained widespread recognition for her distinctive interpretations of Mexican rancheras. However, her impact extends beyond this genre, encompassing various styles within popular Latin American music.

## Wikipedia Context

This profile section is complemented from Wikipedia for Chavela Vargas. Mexican singer (1919–2012)

## Sources

Primary source page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chavela_Vargas

## Timeline

### 1919 — Birth
Birth of Chavela Vargas.

### 2026 — Wikipedia Complement
Profile metadata and editorial blocks were complemented using Wikipedia and Wikidata references.

### 2026 — Profile Update
Structured profile components were updated to improve completeness.

## Quotes

> "Profile note: Chavela Vargas was complemented using Wikipedia reference material."
> — Chavela Vargas, Peoplebio editorial note (2026)

> "Editorial note: This block stores profile notes and source context, not attributed quotations."
> — Chavela Vargas, Peoplebio editorial note (2026)

> "Source note: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chavela_Vargas"
> — Chavela Vargas, Peoplebio editorial note (2026)

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Source: https://peoplebio.info/p/chavela-vargas