A day like today was born Atahualpa Yupanqui, legend of folklore

On January 31, 1908, Héctor Roberto Chavero was born in the district of Pergamino, province of Buenos Aires, who would achieve recognition, nationally and internationally, under the name of Atahualpa Yupanqui.With Indian, Creole and Basque ancestry, during his adolescence he became clearly aware of his mission and destiny: he became one of the most representative singer-songwriters of Argentine popular culture and composed more than 1,200 Creole songs. He also played soccer, practiced boxing and fencing. He also militated in the Argentine Communist Party in the years of Peronism. As a result of his political militancy, he was persecuted, imprisoned and tortured, and even attempted to assassinate him twice. In the late ’40s he went into exile in Paris, France, where he performed with Édith Piaf. In Europe, he also gave hundreds of concerts. After the return of democracy in 1983, his popularity in Argentina grew and he made several trips and concerts in his homeland. He presented several works at the Café Concert and La Capilla Gallery. In 1985, he won the Kónex de Brilante prize as the greatest figure in the history of Argentine popular music. In 1992, Yupanqui returned to France to perform in the city of Nîmes, where he died on May 23. By his express wish, his remains were repatriated and rest in Cerro Colorado, under a European oak tree.

Original source in Spanish