Plebe de la semana

My person of the week is Maria de luz Flores (May 23, 1906-June 25, 1944), better known as Lucha Reyes, the famous female Mexican mariachi singer. The 1994 film 'LA REINA DE LA NOCHE' is loosely based on her life. Here's the description: "THe film opens with Lucha Reyes returning home from a tour in Germany. Serious problems with her voice force her to take up folk songs - rancheras. Lucha Reyes was right in the centre of the events of her day and moved among the most significant personalities of its artistic and intellectual life. Her lesbian relationship with a prostitute sent shock waves through the society at the time, but she nonetheless married a theatre director. Today Lucha Reyes is considered to be the finest singer of Mexican folk music. She is a part of her nation´s heritage just as is Edith Piaf in France and Judy Garland in the United States". Some of the descriptions of her life remind me of the character Kitty Butler in Sarah Waters book 'Tipping the Velvet'. By the way Sarah Waters has a new book coming out in 2006!