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Victor Lidio Jara Martínez was born on a plantation near the chilean town of Lonquen. His parents were poor farm workers whose names were Amanda and Manuel. Alcohol abuse and violence from Manuel along with shortage of money caused a lot of problems for the family to deal with.
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His parents rented a room to a school teacher who played guitar and showed Jara how to play a few chords. He was later given lessons by a village resident when he noticed that Jara was good at making up songs.
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In 1952, Jara joined the chilean army. He eventually worked his way to the rank of sergeant first class. When he was discharged he returned to santiago.
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He joined a choir and traveled north to learn about the folk music. He later joined a mime group of santiago theatre students.
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Jara met Violeta Parra at Santiago's Café São Paulo and was greatly influenced by her.
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Jara visited cuba and the soviet union and joined the communist party.
He also was with the leftist social movement (led by Salvador Allende). -
Jara met Joan Turner and they married in 1965. Together they raised 2 daughters (Amanda and Manuela).
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He released his first album(Canto a lo humano) along with a song called “La beata” which was banned from radio and stores.
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Jara released a song called “Preguntas por Puerto Montt” (questions about Puerto Montt) which took aim at an official that ordered police to attack beggars at Puerto Montt.
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Jara released “venceremos” for Salvador Allende’s Unidad popular movement. It was to be used as a theme song.
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Jara was captured and taken to the Estadio Chile. The guards tortured him by not letting him eat or drink for three days. He continued to sing “venceremos” and even started to write a new song. On september 15 he was taken to an unpopulated area and shot.
