Maria Teresa Vera

Bio

María Teresa Vera (1895–1965) was a Cuban singer, guitarist, and composer whose career helped shape the early development of the trova and son cubano traditions. Born in Artemisa, she began performing in Havana in the 1910s and became one of the first women to gain prominence as a trovadora, often accompanying herself on guitar. Her repertoire blended boleros, guarachas, and Afro-Cuban rhythms, and she recorded extensively for RCA Victor and other labels from the 1920s onward. Vera composed several enduring classics, including the bolero “Veinte años,” and collaborated with leading figures such as Rafael Zequeira and Lorenzo Hierrezuelo. Her clear, emotive vocal style and understated guitar work made her a model for later generations of Cuban musicians. She continued performing and recording until shortly before her death in Havana in 1965, leaving a recorded legacy that remains central to the history of Cuban popular music.