The music industry and the Eurovision scene dress in mourning to say goodbye to one of their most iconic faces. María Mendional, a member of the duo Baccara, died this Saturday, September 11 at the age of 69 , as reported by the official Instagram account of the musical group.
Maria Mendiola, who rose to fame in the 70s as part of the duo Baccara, one of the few Spanish musical groups that achieved real international success at the time (Los Bravos, Los Pop-Tops …), has died in Madrid after 69 years of age. Both her family and Cristina Sevilla, her current artistic partner in the duo, have confirmed the news without giving more details about the causes of death.
The singer, dancer, and founder of the duo Baccara who has made us dance so much with songs like ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’, ‘Sorry I’m Lady’, ‘Voulez Vous’, etc … will always be remembered for her love, dedication, and respect for the world of music and interpretation. We will always remember her smile “, she concludes.
María was a member of the RTVE ballet in the 70s, and she proposed the idea of forming a vocal duo to Maite Mateos. After a period of laborious anonymity in Spain in 1976, while they were performing in the Canary Islands, they were discovered by the German section of the RCA record company. From the hand of producers Rolf Soja and Frank Dostal, they were released from Germany as a ‘high standing’ product of an international pop and disco music that then dominated groups and soloists such as Abba, Cliff Richards, the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Boney M, Bonnie Tyler …
‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’ and Eurovision
Baccara was born in 1977 by María Mendiola and Mayte Mateos, who were part of the Spanish Television ballet. A year before, during a performance in the Canary Islands, they were discovered by the German section of the RCA record company, with whom they recorded an album jumping to stardom thanks to the song ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie ‘, which went around the world reaching number one in various countries.
Always singing in English, they cultivated a very characteristic image, with one dressed in white (Maria) and the other in black (Mayte). Their international success also earned them Luxembourg to make them their Eurovision representatives in 1978. With the song ‘Parlez-Vous Français’ they took the seventh position in the music competition.
However, the success was fleeting as the creative and personal differences between the singers precipitated the dissolution of the duo in 1981. However, Baccara continued her journey as each one remade the formation with a new partner, keeping the name and interpreting their mythical songs since both had the rights.
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
