Victor Jara

Chilean poet and singer, one of the more influentials in the XXth century. Born: 23rd September 1932, Lonquén (Chile). He was murdered shortly after Pinochet's coup on September 11th 1973.

After singing in a University Chorus, his musical career started in 1957 when he met Violeta Parra who encouraged him to write his own songs. He joined "CUNCUMÉN", a folk band that published that year an album of the same name where Victor sang "Se me ha escapado un suspiro". On their second album "Villancicos Chilenos" (1958) he sang "Doña María te ruego" and "Décimas por el nacimiento". He started also his work as theatre director. On their third album, "Una Geografía Musical de Chile" (1962) he wrote/sang "Paloma quiero contarte"/"Canción del minero". In 1965 he started his solo career with a single: "Paloma quiero contarte"/"La beata". From 1966 and 1969 he was also musical director from Quilapayún.

Original discography:

* Victor Jara (1966, Demon) [Reissued as "Canto a lo Humano"]
* Víctor Jara (1967, Odeon Chile [Reissued as "Desde Lonquén hasta siempre"]
* Canciones folclóricas de América (with Quilapayún) (1968, Odeon Chile)
* Pongo en tus manos abiertas [Reissued as "Te recuerdo Amanda"] (1969, DICAP)
* Canto Libre (1970, Odeon Chile)
* El derecho de vivir en paz (1971, DICAP)
* La población (1972, DICAP)
* Canto por travesura (1973, DICAP)

Some songs published as singles in 1972/73 and other unreleased were later issued with different names as "Manifiesto", "Víctor Jara: Presente", "Canciones Póstumas"...