Soledad Bravo

Soledad Bravo was born in Logrono, Spain, in 1943. At an early age, this daughter of a republican father had to leave Europe with her family and move to Venezuela to lead a brand new life and discovered a culture of tropical flavors.

1967: She started studying Architecture, Psychology and Literature at the Central University of Venezuela. She began to sing and interpret Garcia Lorca's "Amor de don Perilimplin con Belisa en su jardin." Very impressed by her performance, Sofia Imber, an influential Venezuelan journalist, gave her the opportunity to appear every morning on a TV show called "Buenos Dias." Soon after Soledad became a cult singer and the rising star of Venezuela.

1968: Soledad recorded her debut album Soledad Bravo Canta followed by a national tour.

1969-1971: Soledad recorded two albums of popular and traditional South American songs, including material by Atahualpa Yupanqui, Violeta Parra, Daniel Viglietti, Vinicius de Moraes, Baden Powell, Alfredo Zitarrosa and Joan Manuel Serrat. Here and there, people started to label her as "committed." She still replies, imperturbable, that she only sings what her heart tells her to.

1972-1975: After the release of an amazing double live album,Soledad Bravo en Vivo, Soledad attended the Agua Dulce Popular Festival in Lima (Peru). It was a real consecration and the beginning of a new legend across the borders.

1976-1977: Soledad performed in Spain. She appeared on national TV with the brilliant flamenco guitarist Manolo Sanlucar. The Spanish public gave her a warm and passionate welcome. Deeply moved, Soledad decided to stay and work there for four years.

She sang and recorded (between Rome and Madrid) some of the finest of Rafael Alberti's poems. Alberti took part of the project and joined her studio! More than a record: a page in the history of literature was written with music!

Let's just say that the rest is pure success and inspired eclecticism. In 1979, she gave a breathtaking performance in the Theatre de La Ville in Paris. In 1980, she recorded a collection of old Jewish songs from Andalucia (Cantos Sefardies). Rave reviews from an international following greeted that work. In 1981, Soledad changed her repertoire, discovering the essence of tropical rhythm and songs. In New York, she recorded an album of Caribbean material produced by the great Willie Colon. A page had been turned, and still today, with virtuosity, feeling and success, Soledad explores that universe of sunny and swinging refrains.

This Latin diva has recorded more than 30 albums and is a truly established star. She's sung all around the world (Costa Rica, Holland, Germany, France, Spain, U.S.A.), offering traditional selections, sometimes leaving her guitar and her cuatro to perform a thrilling mixture of salsa and more lively refrains (always acclaimed with enthusiasm)! She played and worked with, among others, Chico Buarque, Willie Colon, Gilberto Gil, Pablo Milanes, Ray Barreto, Manolo Sanlucar, Joaquin Sabina, Milton Nascimento, Paquito D'Rivera, Mikis Theodorakis, Paco Ibanez, Ruben Blades, Silvio Roderiguez.

Soledad Bravo is the only Latin singer able to go from one style to another, epitomizing the fusion of beautiful poetry and unique singing in an extraordinarily varied program of canciones Latino-Americanas (from Argentine tango to Mexican bolero, from ranchera to guaguanco, son, golpe, guajira, milonga or Afro-jazz.) —Courtesy Calabash Music