Tania Libertad

Tania Libertad de Souza Zúñiga (born October 24, 1952) known professionally as Tania Libertad, is a Peruvian-Mexican singer in the World Music genre.

Libertad was named an Ambassador for Peace by UNESCO, Comendadora by the Peruvian government, a member of the Order of Rio Branco by the Brazilian government, among other honors. In 2009, she received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for musical excellence. With more than 44 albums and sales of over 12 million copies, her work is widely known throughout the Americas, Europe and Africa. She has performed concerts in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, England, Morocco, Angola, Senegal, the United States, Peru, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Uruguay, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, El Salvador, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. The year 2012 marked 50 years as a performer with two sold-out performances at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, launching a tour throughout Latin America.

Early life

Libertad was born in Zaña, a small town in the Lambayeque Region on the coast of northern Peru and was raised in the regional capital of Chiclayo. Her mother was a nurse of indigenous descent, and her father was a policeman of Portuguese descent with very traditional views on gender roles. She grew up with eight older brothers. She found growing up in such a male-dominated environment difficult.

She first sang on stage at the age of five in Chiclayo. Because her parents worked long hours, her family didn't know she was singing. In early performances, she sang traditional Peruvian and Mexican songs, including waltzes and boleros. When her father discovered her musical talent, he had her sing songs he had written to his mistresses; she found these songs were of poor quality and helped her distinguish between good and bad music.

The Nobel Prize winning Portuguese author Jose Saramago writes of her work:

"The first time I heard Tania Libertad sing, it was a revelation from on high - from a place where only a naked voice might go, alone in the world, unaccompanied by any instrument. Tania was singing the Rafael Alberti composition "La Paloma" a capella, and each note touched a string in my soul until I was completely dazzled." - José Saramago She identifies as anti-war, but does not like to be labeled a protest singer.

Discography Libertad has recorded 44 albums with more than 12 million copies sold.

Tania Libertad Soy Peruana La Contamanina Mejor que nunca La dulce voz de Tania Libertad El mismo Puerto Concierto en la voz de Tania Libertad Hits Hits Vol. II Alfonsina y el mar Lo inolvidable de Chabuca Granda Como una campana de cristal Boleros Nuevamente Boleros Me voy pa'la pachanga Trovadicción Mucho corazón Razón de Vivir (duet with Djavan) Tania canta a José Alfredo Jiménez (duet with Vicente Fernandez) Boleros hoy (duet Armando Manzanero, Miguel Bose, Ivan Lins and Azucar Moreno) México Lindo y Querido África en América La Libertad de Manzanero Amar Amando Tania y su sabrosa Libertad Himno al amor Mujeres apasionadas Tomate esta botella conmigo Armando la Libertad Blue Note, Live in New York La vida, ese paréntesis (duet with Joan Manuel Serrat and Willie Colon) Arias de Ópera, ¿Y... por que no? Alfonsina Y El Mar XX Años Costa Negra 20 De Colección Negro Color Tania 50 años de Libertad Manzanero a Tres Pistas Desarmando a Tania Por Ti y Por Mi Las Tres Grandes: Primera Fila with Guadalupe Pineda and Eugenia León Jose Alfredo y Yo