An El Hierro singer of Canarian folklore whose voice projected island songbook repertoires on national and international stages.
María Mérida, known as the lady of Canarian song, was one of the great voices of the archipelago's folklore.
Open biographyCanariWiki places the beginning of her musical vocation in childhood and records a first folías prize at the age of twelve. She later moved to Madrid, performed in theatres such as the Español and María Guerrero and worked in radio for audiences connected with Spanish emigration in Latin America.
Her contribution lies in the stage and radio projection of Canarian folklore, with repertoires by Néstor Álamo and songs dedicated to different islands. The National Library of Spain records her as a singer linked to Canary Islands folklore, and CanariWiki documents recognitions such as the 2000 Canary Islands Prize for Fine Arts and Performance.
Her performance belongs to Canarian folk song, with folías, songs by Néstor Álamo and pieces dedicated to the emotional landscape of the islands. No technical vocal traits are attributed beyond what the sources document.
The documented repertoire includes songs by Néstor Álamo such as Ay, Teror, Sombras del Nublo, La Alpispa and Tierra Canaria, as well as pieces of her own or associated with islands such as Mi Hierro lindo, Lanzarote, isla bravía or Fuerteventura morena.
Her legacy rests on catalogued recordings, institutional recognitions and recent tributes in El Hierro that revisit her repertoire as island musical memory.
She was born in Valverde and her repertoire projected music and references from several islands, with a memory especially linked to El Hierro.
Registro sonoro catalogado por la Biblioteca Nacional de España con repertorio vinculado a Néstor Álamo.
Canción citada por CanariWiki entre las composiciones dedicadas a las islas.
Nace en Valverde, El Hierro.
CanariWiki recoge que recibe un primer premio de folías a los doce años.
Recibe el Premio Canarias de Bellas Artes e Interpretación.
Fallece en Candelaria, Tenerife.
