Maria Merida Perez was born on the 5th of June, 1925 in Valverde, El Hierro. Her parents, Ricardo and Adolfa, ran a shop and a small farm in the coastal town of Tamaduste, where she had a joyful childhood with her sister. When she was five years old, her family, like many from El Hierro, relocated to Santa Cruz de Tenerife in search of better opportunities, both financially and intellectually, for their daughters. Initially, they operated a guesthouse on Santo Domingo Street, near the Guimerá Theater, but had to close it when her mother fell ill, moving to Humo Street in the Regla neighbourhood to open a shop. Four years later, they ventured to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where they opened a cafe near Puerto de La Luz in collaboration with a local partner. The family returned to Santa Cruz when Maria was 11 years old. At this young age, she showcased her singing talent at the Fashion Wednesdays programme held at the Numancia cinema to raise funds for Canarians involved in the ongoing conflict since 1936. Maria’s debut in the spotlight came at the age of 12 when she won first prize in a folías contest at the Recreational Park, earning 25 pesetas as a reward. She later participated in a competition at Radio Club where she was awarded a watch, her first possession of its kind. Upon being invited by General García Escámez to perform at a party in the Capitanía Palace, Maria’s parents were advised to enrol her in music studies at the Music Conservatory located on Ruiz de Padrón Street, adjacent to Plaza del Príncipe. At the age of 17, she made her first trip to the Peninsula to partake in a choir and dance demonstration in Madrid. Subsequently, Maria became a cherished vocalist in the Choral Mass, where she also mastered regional dances. She tied the knot with Horacio Cruz, a Hermigua native from La Gomera, on the 3rd of August, 1944, and they were blessed with their children: Ricardo Antonio, Miguel Ángel, José Horacio, and their daughter, Mayte.
A highly personal and emotional figure in Canarian folklore, Maria was lauded by esteemed critics and artists worldwide. She shared the stage with renowned stars such as Plácido Domingo, Alfredo Kraus, Montserrat Caballé, and Bing Crosby throughout her illustrious career. In her extensive discography, she paid homage to each of the Canary Islands with compositions like ‘Mi Hierro linda’, ‘Lanzarote isla bravía’, ‘Peñón gomero’, ‘Fuerteventura morena’, ‘Isa palmera’, ‘Tenerife isla amada’, and ‘Cumbres de mi Gran Canaria’. In 2001, she released the album ‘Mi dulce Garoé’ in collaboration with the Bentayga Group, showcasing her greatest hits. Maria received numerous accolades and distinctions, notably the Canary Islands Prize for Fine Arts and Interpretation from the Government of the Canary Islands in 2000, and the Honour Award of the Choirs and Dances of Spain in 2019. On her 96th birthday, the Professional Association of Canarian Composers bestowed upon her the prestigious Canarian Music Honour Award in recognition of her extensive and dedicated career dedicated to promoting Canary Islands’ music. In El Hierro, she was honoured as the Favourite Daughter of the Island in 2002, receiving the Golden Garoé, and a street was named after her by the Valverde City Council. She was also granted the title of Adopted Daughter of Teror.
