http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.32653&variant=artist-playlists&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rssA cross-dressing lesbian who ruled Mexico's ranchera stages in the 1950s and '60s, Chavela Vargas moved to the rhythm of her own passions, some of them (her love for women) healthy but forbidden, others (her drinking) facilitating her downward spiral. She was born in Costa Rica and moved when she was just 14 to Mexico City, where she began singing on the streets. By the 1950s her vast talent -- and the uncontrolled quantities of anguish and passion that suffused her voice -- had become known, though she didn't record her first album (with Jose Alfredo Jimenez producing) until 1961. Despite the restrictions of the times, Vargas dressed in men's clothes, smoked cigars and chased women. She would even sing seductive songs to women in the audience. Vargas famously romanced Frida Khalo and jumped out of a window after being spurned by another lover, which left her with a permanent limp. Unfortunately her drinking took a toll, and she disappeared from view in the 1970s, though she'd become an icon in the international gay community. In the early 1990s, Pedro Almodovar began using her music in his films and reintroduced her to the world. She played Carnegie Hall in 2003, at the age of 83. - Sarah BardeenRancheraen720Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:54:12 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.32653&variant=artist-playlists&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss A cross-dressing lesbian who ruled Mexico's ranchera stages in the 1950s and '60s, Chavela Vargas moved to the rhythm of her own passions, some of them (her love for women) healthy but forbidden, others (her drinking) facilitating her downward spiral. She was born in Costa Rica and moved when she was just 14 to Mexico City, where she began singing on the streets. By the 1950s her vast talent -- and the uncontrolled quantities of anguish and passion that suffused her voice -- had become known, though she didn't record her first album (with Jose Alfredo Jimenez producing) until 1961. Despite the restrictions of the times, Vargas dressed in men's clothes, smoked cigars and chased women. She would even sing seductive songs to women in the audience. Vargas famously romanced Frida Khalo and jumped out of a window after being spurned by another lover, which left her with a permanent limp. Unfortunately her drinking took a toll, and she disappeared from view in the 1970s, though she'd become an icon in the international gay community. In the early 1990s, Pedro Almodovar began using her music in his films and reintroduced her to the world. She played Carnegie Hall in 2003, at the age of 83. - Sarah Bardeen http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.28879934&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss Latin Thu, 9 Jul 2009 12:10:40 -0700 Playlists Featuring Chavela Vargas on Rhapsody Online 28879934 ply.28879934 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.28879934&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.28520517&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss Latin Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:18:21 -0700 Playlists Featuring Chavela Vargas on Rhapsody Online 28520517 ply.28520517 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.28520517&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.28454714&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss Latin Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:37:56 -0800 Playlists Featuring Chavela Vargas on Rhapsody Online 28454714 ply.28454714 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.28454714&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.27694097&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss Latin Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:23:28 -0800 Playlists Featuring Chavela Vargas on Rhapsody Online 27694097 ply.27694097 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.27694097&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.22850342&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss Classical Sat, 6 Sep 2008 08:15:01 -0700 Playlists Featuring Chavela Vargas on Rhapsody Online 22850342 ply.22850342 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.22850342&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.22850341&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss Classical Sat, 6 Sep 2008 08:15:01 -0700 Playlists Featuring Chavela Vargas on Rhapsody Online 22850341 ply.22850341 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.22850341&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.18451095&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss Classical Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:34:49 -0700 Playlists Featuring Chavela Vargas on Rhapsody Online 18451095 ply.18451095 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.18451095&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.15101368&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss Classical Fri, 7 Mar 2008 07:04:47 -0800 Playlists Featuring Chavela Vargas on Rhapsody Online 15101368 ply.15101368 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.15101368&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.13459234&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:58:43 -0700 Playlists Featuring Chavela Vargas on Rhapsody Online 13459234 ply.13459234 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.13459234&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.12180346&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss Latin Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:13:49 -0800 Playlists Featuring Chavela Vargas on Rhapsody Online 12180346 ply.12180346 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.12180346&variant=play&rws=%2Fchavela-vargas%2Fplaylists.rss