Famous Latinx Birthdays

Photo from elmundo.com, in an article about the documentary made about her by Mexican Rubén Rojo, with an emphasis on her last performance, which was an homage to Spanish poet Federico García Lorca. Click HERE .  ¡Feliz cumpleaños a ... Chavela Vargas (Isabel Vargas Lizano)! (1919-2012) Chavelas Vargas, a Costa-Rican singer who adopted Mexico as a her homeland (her last words were purportedly "I go with Mexico in my heart"), was the recipient of a 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Grammys. She was also the muse to Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar and the lover of Frida Kahlo and other famous women. Born in Costa Rica in 1919, she left the country in her teens and headed to Mexico City, where she began her career singing ranchera music on the streets. By her thirties, she was a star, well-known for the red jorongo that she donned at every performance. She refused to be defined by gender stereotypes and often performed in pants (shocking at the time!) and w...

¡Feliz cumpleaños a ... Vicente Fernández ! (1940-       ) Fernández's 2007 album was his 79th and sold 2 million plus copies worldwide.  A legendary singer, actor, and film producer from Mexico who is often called "El rey de la música ranchera" (King of Ranchera Music), Fernández has more than 75 albums to his name. He also has 3 Grammy Awards, 8 Latin Grammy Awards, and 14 Lo Nuestro Awards. Oh, and he has also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has collaborated on more than 30 films. Fernández announced his retirement in 2012 but performed one last time in April of 2016 in Mexico's Azteca Stadium . Fernández grew up on his father's ranch on the outskirts of Guadalajara and later moved with the family to Tijuana, where he washed dishes, cleared tables, and eventually became the manager of his uncle's restaurant. He had already begun performing, however, and he got his big break in 1966 when CBS Records International (now Sony Music Latin) off...