Full Name: Ruth Noemí Fernández Cortada

Born: May 23, 1919, Ponce, Puerto Rico

Died: January 9, 2012, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Nickname: La Negra de Ponce (The Black Woman from Ponce)

Ruth Fernández was a groundbreaking Puerto Rican singer, politician, and cultural ambassador, celebrated for her powerful contralto voice and her trailblazing role as a Black woman in the Latin music industry. With a career that spanned over six decades, she became a beloved figure in Puerto Rico and Latin America.

Ruth began her career in the 1930s and rose to fame in the 1940s, becoming the first Puerto Rican woman to perform popular music internationally with great success. She was known for her emotive interpretations of boleros, danza, plena, and other Afro-Caribbean genres, blending classical training with heartfelt folk traditions.

Her rendition of songs like “Gracias Mundo,” “Mis Amores,” and “Ahora Seremos Felices” are considered classics in Puerto Rican music. She was one of the first women to perform with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra and broke racial and gender barriers by performing in venues where Black artists were previously not welcomed.

In addition to her musical achievements, Ruth Fernández entered politics and served as a Senator in the Puerto Rican Senate from 1973 to 1981, representing the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). She continued to advocate for culture, artists’ rights, and the preservation of Puerto Rican identity.

Known as La Voz Negra de Puerto Rico (The Black Voice of Puerto Rico), Ruth Fernández left an indelible mark on the island’s cultural and political landscape. Her legacy lives on through her recordings and her pioneering spirit.