Diamantina Rodríguez

Diamantina Rodríguez (14 September 1920 – 21 April 2021) was a Spanish singer. She was named as one of the most important Asturian singers of the twentieth century. She began her career in 1948 in a contest, where she placed second. She recorded her first album in 1969, and died in 2021 aged 100.

Career In her childhood she heard the voice of the singer Obdulia Álvarez, "La Busdonga", on a gramophone, who would become her inspiration. In 1932, at the age of twelve, she met the piper Argimiro Fernández with whom she formed a musical duo, she playing the tambourine, which toured the patron saint festivals of the region. Four years later, in 1936, Diamantina and Argimiro were married before he participated in the Spanish Civil War.

On 1 October 2001, the Quirós City Council named her Favourite Daughter of the council, an honour she shared with the musician Manuel Rodríguez Osorio, better known as Manolo Quirós.

In 2002 she was awarded a Silver Medal of Asturias, a distinction granted by the Government of the Principality of Asturia, in recognition of her artistic career and her contribution to the recovery of Asturian musical heritage.

On 31 October 2009, the Council of Mieres inaugurated the Centro d'Estudios de l'Asturianada Diamantina Rodríguez, whose objective is the documentation, research and exhibition of l'asturianada, a genre of traditional Asturian music.

Discography Among her most important albums are:

La verde Asturias (1972) Canciones Asturianas (1973) A las madres de los mineros (1981)

Compilations She also participated in the following musical compilations :

Lo mejor de Asturias (1965) Asturias Patria Querida (1969) Con voz de muyer (2004)

Collaborations She also made collaborations:

From L.laciana I come (2004), by Rosario González