The name Libertad, bestowed upon the child born in Rosario, Santa Fe, in 1908, reflected her father Gaudencio's desire for his own release from imprisonment. She eventually emerged as a prolific figure in Spanish-language entertainment, accumulating a body of work that spanned 65 films, 800 recorded songs, and six telenovelas across her career in both Argentina and Mexico.
Early Stage and Radio Career
Lamarque secured her first professional role in the 1923 stage production Madre Tierra. Following this, she relocated to Buenos Aires to join the National Theatre in 1926, where she performed in La muchacha de Montmartre. Her transition to broader audiences occurred quickly through Radio Prieto broadcasts and a recording contract with Victor Records, leading to the release of her debut album, Gaucho Sol, in 1926. By 1930, she won a competition at the Teatro Colón, earning the title Queen of Tango after performing the songs La cumparsita and Tocaneando.
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Take the IQ test →Cinematic Achievements and Musical Style
In 1932, she performed in the first Argentine sound film, titled ¡Tango!. This project established her as the primary singer to be recorded for the medium in her home country. Over the following decade, she appeared in a series of films including Ayúdame a vivir, Besos brujos, and Madreselva. Her musical performances were characterized by a light soprano range extending to high A, with compositions often supplied by Enrique Santos Discepolo. During the mid-1930s, her backing trio featured Alfredo Malerba, whom she later married.
The Relocation to Mexico
Despite receiving a seven-year offer from Hollywood, which she declined due to language barriers, she moved to Mexico in 1946. This shift followed a successful tour in Cuba, where she was nicknamed America's Sweetheart. Her transition to Mexico allowed her to work with filmmaker Luis Buñuel on the picture Gran Casino. While rumors persisted regarding a professional blacklist in Argentina orchestrated by Eva Perón due to their history on the film La cabalgata del circo, historians such as Marysa Navarro and Nicholas Frasier suggest her move was driven by the superior state of the Mexican film industry at that time.
Fast facts
- Born: 24 November 1908, Rosario, Argentina
- Died: 12 December 2000, Mexico City, Mexico
- Film credits: 65
- Recorded songs: 800+
- Vocal range: C4 to A5
- Stage debut: 1923, Madre Tierra
- Spouse: Alfredo Malerba
Questions readers ask
Why did she move from Argentina to Mexico?
While rumors suggested she was blacklisted by Eva Perón, historians note that the Mexican film industry offered better opportunities during the 1940s and 1950s.
What was her vocal range?
She was a light soprano with a vocal range spanning from approximately middle C to high A.
