María Isabel Granda Larco was born on September 3, 1920 in Las Cotabambas Aurarias, a mining settlement located in the district of Progreso, in the province of Grau, in the department of Apurímac. Her father was Eduardo Granda y San Bartolomé, who was a mining engineer, and her mother was Isabel Susana Larco Ferrari de Granda.

In 1923 the family moved to Lima, studying at the Colegio Sagrado Corazón. At the age of 12 she discovered her vocation for singing and during her youth she joined the Association of Amateur Artists, participating in theater and opera. Together with Pilar Mujica, she formed the duo Luz y Sombra singing Mexican music. She later, together with the sisters Martha and Rosario Gibson, formed a trio appearing on Radio Miraflores and Radio Nacional.

Beginning of his career

But her career as a composer began in 1948 with the waltz “Lima de Veras”, followed by “Callecita iluminada”, “Zaguán” and the Lima marinera “Tun tun…open the door”.

The original manuscript of his most emblematic song “La flor de la canela” was signed on January 7, 1950. However, he would not premiere the waltz until July 21 of that year, during the birthday of the neighbor from Rime, Victoria Angulo, godmother. of the First Squad of Chargers of the Lord of Miracles and who was his inspiration to write the immortal theme.

“La flor de la canela” was recorded for the first time in 1953 by the trio Los Morochucos, but it would be the version of the trio Los Chamas that would have the privilege of immortalizing her as a composer. Then came “Fina Estampa”, “El Puente de los Suspiros”, “José Antonio” and “Zeñó Manué”, among others.

Her quality crossed the borders

Her fame crossed borders and she is one of the best known composers worldwide. More than one hundred recorded songs and several unreleased compositions make up her artistic legacy. Her songs have been performed by singers such as Raphael, Juan Gabriel, Rubén Blades, María Dolores Pradera, Caetano Veloso, among others. She recorded and produced eleven albums with her songs, with her characteristic deep voice.

She musically covers various coastal rhythms such as the waltz, the tondero, the Lima marinera, the landó and the festejo. Throughout her career, she alternated with renowned musicians such as Oscar Avilés, Rafael Amaranto, Álvaro Lagos, Lucho Gonzáles, Jaime Delgado Aparicio, Carlos “Caitro” Soto, Eusebio “Pititi” Sirio, Félix Casaverde and the great Catalan arranger Ricardo Miralles. .

Chabuca Granda participated in television programs in Peru and abroad, as well as in movies. She was a jury member at important international festivals such as the one in Viña del Mar and took her art around the world, filling theaters and coliseums with her live performances. Various squares in Madrid, Santiago de Chile and Buenos Aires bear her name.

Her death was recorded on March 8, 1983 in the US city of Miami, after a painful illness. Her legacy is jealously guarded by the Chabuca Granda Association, made up of her daughter Teresa Fuller Granda and her great-granddaughter Maccarena Becerra, among other personalities.

Chabuca Granda, the most universal Peruvian composer, lives not only in her musical themes but in the hearts of all Peruvians