Inti-Illimani Celebrates 50 years of Music, Activism & Education

Inti-Illimani has transcended our idea of the musical ensemble and has become a cultural location, a liturgy expressing the essence of the Latin-American ethno-musical experience. Founded by Jorge Coulon in 1967, for 50 years Inti-Illimani has performed world-wide to hundreds of thousands of fans, collaborated with folk legends, earned awards and honors for their activism and masterful musicianship, and produced one of the richest discographies in Latin-American recording history. Indeed, Inti-Illimani's premier album, Nueva Cancion, or "new song," spoke to their role in dreaming a new vision for Chile during the volatile socio-political landscape of South America during the 1960's and 70's. They have endured political exile, embodied creative leadership through decades of transition and evolution, and enjoyed an invaluable, truly majestic career.

Inti-Illimani's poetry- a sound that captures memories of persecution, love, loss, revolution, social justice, and freedom- has enchanted the ear of legendary artists with whom they have performed and recorded, including Peter Gabriel, Patricio Manns, John Williams and Paco Pena. They've also shared stages with Mercedes Sosa, Emma Thompson, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Wynton Marsalis, Tracy Chapman, Arja Saijonmaa, Holly Near, Yousssou'n'Dour, and Pete Seeger. Most recently, Joan Baez invited them to perform with her at Teatro Caupolican in Santiago, Chile.

From the group's friendship with the late, great Victor Jara to their camaraderie with Nano Stern- considered by many the voice of Chile's younger generation- Inti-Illimani's song-line reaches across time, space, and nations, yet remains ever-grounded in Chilean roots.

Renowned for their humanity and arts-activism, they have appeared on Amnesty International stages, lectured extensively on Latin-American folk and indigenous music, culture and social change; and most recently, founded an arts-centric charter school, Sol Del Illimani, which the group saved from closing in one of Santiago's most vulnerable neighborhoods.

Inti-Illimani has toured in dozens of countries at prestigious concert halls, festivals, and benefit concerts. They have recorded 36 studio albums, and their newest release is dedicated to the legendary Violeta Parra.

Inti-Illimani means "sun of the mountain," taken from the indigenous Aymara dialect. As they approach their 50-year anniversary, we celebrate the incredible light they have deposited into the world's treasury of exquisite, enduring, and activated musical artistry.

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