Alfredo Zitarrosa

Alfredo Zitarrosa was a Uruguayan singer-songwriter, poet and journalist. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential singer-songwriters of Latin America. He pioneered a new path in Uruguayan popular music, merging the rural folk tradition with the urban influences of tango. Milonga was the genre on which he based much of his work and for which he became best known. Using the traditional format of trios and quartets featuring guitars and guitarrón, he created a distinctive sound that is now synonymous with his name. His work combined social and political themes with reflections on human relationships and existential concerns. A staunch supporter of Communist ideals, he lived in exile between 1976 and 1984.