Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Argentina

Birth

:

February 1, 1930 in Rosário, Argentina

Genre

:

Vocal

 

María Elena Walsh was an Argentine composer, singer, poet, and writer who is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in Latin American children's literature. Born on February 1, 1930, in Ramos Mejía, a suburb of Buenos Aires, Walsh grew up in a family of musicians. Her father was a composer and her mother was a pianist, and both of them encouraged her to pursue a career in music. At the age of six, Walsh began taking piano lessons, and by the time she was a teenager, she was already composing her own music. She studied music at the National Conservatory of Music in Buenos Aires, where she was trained in classical music and learned to play a variety of instruments, including the guitar, the accordion, and the charango. In the 1950s, Walsh began performing as a singer and guitarist in cafes and clubs in Buenos Aires. She quickly gained a reputation as a talented performer and songwriter, and her music became popular throughout Argentina. In 1956, she released her first album, "Canciones para mirar," which included some of her most famous songs, such as "El reino del revés" and "La vaca estudiosa." Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Walsh continued to write and perform music, but she also became increasingly involved in political activism. She was a vocal critic of the military dictatorship that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983, and her music often reflected her political views. In 1979, she was forced to flee Argentina and went into exile in Uruguay, where she continued to write and perform music. Despite the challenges she faced as a political dissident, Walsh continued to compose music throughout her life. She wrote music for films, television shows, and theater productions, and she also wrote several books of poetry and children's literature. Her work was widely recognized for its humor, wit, and social commentary, and she was awarded numerous honors and awards throughout her career. Some of Walsh's most famous compositions include "El reino del revés," a playful song that imagines a world where everything is upside down, and "La vaca estudiosa," a song about a studious cow who loves to read. She also wrote several songs that addressed political and social issues, such as "La canción del parque," which criticizes the government's treatment of the poor, and "La carta," which tells the story of a political prisoner. In addition to her music, Walsh was also known for her writing. She wrote several books of poetry, including "Otoño imperdonable" and "Hecho a mano," and she also wrote several children's books, including "Manuelita la tortuga" and "Dailan Kifki." Her children's books were particularly popular, and they have been translated into several languages. María Elena Walsh died on January 10, 2011, at the age of 80. She is remembered as one of the most important figures in Argentine music and literature, and her work continues to be celebrated and studied today. Her music and writing have had a profound impact on generations of Argentines, and her legacy continues to inspire new generations of artists and writers.

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