b. 28 September 1932, Lonqu‚n, Santiago, Chile, d. 15 September 1973, Santiago, Chile. "You can't have a revolution without songs", read a banner accompanying the election of Chile's socialist president, Salvador Allende. "Nueva canci¢n" (new song), was a vital part of the Chilean political process from the mid-60s through the early 70s, and V¡ctor Jara was a vital part of the movement. Poet, troubadour, theatre director and political activist, Jara was a renaissance man who remains an icon to this day. After forays as a young man into seminary school and the army, Jara pursued a degree in theatre and immersed himself in Santiago's bohemian music scene. There he met the singer/songwriter and musicologist Violeta Parra, who, through her diligent research into and revival of local folk songs and instruments, became a major progenitor of nueva canci¢n. Jara became increasingly involved in the tumultuous politics of his country by lending musical support to union and Popular Unity (socialist party) rallies. With acoustic guitar, charango (a mandolin-like instrument built with an armadillo shell), pan flutes and drums in hand, Jara and his comrades sang songs that celebrated the lives of Chile's common people and championed peace, freedom, equal land distribution and collective work. In this way, the revolutionary power of new song thrived on a tension between the conventional and radical; Jara and his contemporaries infused rural folkloric musical traditions with topical socialist themes. The result was a popular music that resonated deeply among Chile's progressive working and middle classes - and posed a distinct threat to others. During the brutal onset of the military coup in 1973, Jara was immediately singled out. He was imprisoned and taken with other political prisoners to the National Football Stadium, where a notorious chain of events culminated in his murder. Jara's legacy remains an important part of the South American folk tradition.

Listen to Victor Jara at Finetune.

• El Tinku

• Quilapayun
• Illapu
• Mercedes Sosa
• Inti-Illimani
• Chabuca Granda
• Caetano Veloso
• Peru Negro
• Mountain Music From Peru
• Chico Buarque
• Cafe Tacuba
• Gilberto Gil
• Carlos Gardel
• Ruben Blades
• Astor Piazzolla
• Roberto Rivas & el Conj. Gente Morena
• Sergio Mendes
• Eva Ayllon
• Susana Baca
• Antonio Carlos Jobim
• Lucho Gatica

• mgb08
• frimass
• cutreras
• juanaca
• Ilimari
• titogonzalez23
• YoeFSantos
• superajac
• CamilaGalilea
• analuzza
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• hectorigor

• Mellowswan on 2007-09-22 21:33:23.280:
  Victor Jara was my friend in Chile during the 1970-1973 years. We sang together many times. He was a real poet, his songs spoke of freedom, justice, and he was a sweet kind man. He was killed by the cowards assasins of Pinochet the Chilean facist dictator. Victor was left to bleed to death... You guys should have his music here, the songs "Te recuerdo Amanda" ( Joan Baez recorded it )also " Plegaria a un Labrador" "El Cigarrillo" He was a true hero. Sonia Paz "Pachi" Baron-Vine
• hectorigor on 2007-09-20 00:37:41.687:
  Sin duda una de las mayores expresiones de musicalidad, patriotismo y cultura. A si toso los hombres y mujeres se parecieran a el.
• hectorigor on 2007-09-20 00:37:41.030:
  Sin duda una de las mayores expresiones de musicalidad, patriotismo y cultura. A si toso los hombres y mujeres se parecieran a el.