Concha Michel’s 120th Birthday

She sang duets with Frida Kahlo, performed for John D. Rockefeller, modeled for Diego Rivera, and traveled the world supported only by her voice and her guitar. Today’s Doodle by Mexico-based guest artist Emilia Schettino celebrates the life of the Mexican musician, folklorist, and activist Concha Michel.

Born in Villa de Purificación, Jalisco, on this day in 1899, Concepción Michel was described as “ungovernable” as a child but fell in love with music early, learning to sing and play guitar at a Catholic convent founded by her grandfather.

Known for her indigenous Mexican attire, Michel wore embroidered dresses with braided hair in the style of Mexico’s Tehuana women. She traveled throughout Mexico learning traditional songs and singing her own corridos revolucionarios or revolutionary ballads, becoming one of the few women singing this traditional Mexican form at the time.

During the 1930s she traveled to the United States where she performed at the Museum of Modern Art and the Rockefeller’s grand home. Proceeds of her performances paid for trips to Europe and the Soviet Union, where she met feminist thinkers like Clara Zetkin and Alexandra Kollontai.

In 1950, she established the Folklore Institute in Morelia, Michoacán, part of a lifelong effort to preserve Mexico’s indigenous culture. As she put it in her autobiography, “The world was my university; my graduation, voluntary. My experience was direct, confirmed by life.”

Guest artist Q&A with Emilia Schettino

Q: Why was this topic meaningful to you personally?

A: Because Concha was a strong woman that did a lot of things for Mexico. She promoted Mexican folklore, she was a composer of a Mexican music genre called corrido, and she fought for women's rights.

Q: What were your first thoughts when you were approached about the project?

A: I was very excited because I'm a big fan of Google Doodles, and I loved that I could illustrate a Mexican woman that was very important in our nation’s history.

Q: Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle?

A: Yes, I got inspiration from "The Adelitas" women that were part of the Mexican revolution.

Q: What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle?

A: I hope people can see the Mexican spirit and folklore, and how women can be so powerful and creative just like Concha Michel was.