Mari Trini

Spanish singer/songwriter Mari Trini (born Maria Trinidad Pérez Miravete) learned to play guitar and composed her first songs at a young age, even while plagued by ill health. She moved to London to improve her musical skills and later to Paris, where the promising artist signed her first record deal. In 1969 Trini debuted with the release of a self-titled album featuring songs in both Spanish and French. Amores, Escúchame (regarded as her masterpiece), and Ventanas followed soon after. Her songs "Cuando Me Acaricias," "Canción de Otoño," and "Yo No Soy Esa" became classics of Latin pop. Poor health dogged Trini during the last years of her life, and in 2004 doctors removed one of her kidneys. She died April 6, 2009. ~ Drago Bonacich & Jason Ankeny