22 Facts About Chavela Vargas

Chavela Vargas gained widespread recognition for her distinctive interpretations of Mexican rancheras.

An influential interpreter, Chavela Vargas left a legacy on both the Americas and Europe.

Chavela Vargas's accolades include a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic for her contributions to music.

Chavela Vargas was born in Costa Rica, in San Joaquin de Flores, as Isabel Vargas Lizano, daughter of Francisco Vargas and Herminia Lizano.

Chavela Vargas went by Chavela, which is a pet name for Isabel.

Since she preferred to dress like a man, Chavela Vargas' parents hid their defiantly nonfeminine daughter from guests.

Chavela Vargas sang the cancion ranchera in her own peculiar style.

Chavela Vargas sang this type of song as a solo, using only guitar and voice.

Chavela Vargas often slowed down the tempo of melodies to draw more dramatic tension out of songs, so they could be taken as naughtily humorous.

Chavela Vargas was hugely successful during the 1950s, the 1960s, and the first half of the 1970s, touring in Mexico, the United States, France, and Spain and was close to many prominent artists and intellectuals of the time, including Juan Rulfo, Agustin Lara, Frida Kahlo and her husband, Diego Rivera, Dolores Olmedo and Jimenez.

Chavela Vargas was known to have had various lesbian relationships, and is rumored to have had affairs with Frida Kahlo and Ava Gardner.

Chavela Vargas returned to the stage in 1991, performing at a bohemian nightclub called "El Habito" in Coyoacan, Mexico City.

Chavela Vargas's career started to recover international prominence, with performances in Latin America, Europe and the United States.

Chavela Vargas debuted at Carnegie Hall in 2003 at age 83 at the behest and promotion of Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, an admirer and friend.

Chavela Vargas's coming out was not surprising to her fans.

For years Chavela Vargas refused to change the genders in her songs.

In "Paloma Negra", Chavela Vargas accuses a woman of partying all night long and breaking her heart.

Chavela Vargas is featured in many of Almodovar's films, including La flor de mi secreto in both song and video.

Chavela Vargas said that acting was not her ambition, although she had previously participated in films such as the 1967 movie La Soldadera.

Chavela Vargas appeared in Frida, singing "La Llorona".

Chavela Vargas appeared in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Babel, singing "Tu me acostumbraste", a bolero by Frank Dominguez.

Chavela Vargas died in Cuernavaca, Mexico, after being hospitalized for several weeks due to respiratory issues.