Martirio (María Isabel de la Cinta Quiñones Gutiérrez) (born March 21, 1954, in Huelva) is a Spanish singer known for blending traditional Andalusian music with jazz, flamenco, tango, bolero, and rock. She began her career in the 1980s as part of Jarcha and Veneno before launching a solo career in 1986 with Estoy mala. Her theatrical stage presence, marked by sunglasses and a peineta, became iconic in Spain’s music scene. Throughout her career, Martirio has collaborated with artists such as Chano Domínguez, Chavela Vargas, Compay Segundo, and Lila Downs. She has released critically acclaimed albums, including Flor de piel (1999), Acoplados (2004), and Primavera en Nueva York (2006). Her work often reinterprets copla and flamenco while bridging Spanish and Latin American traditions. Beyond music, she has acted in films (Belmonte, Más allá del jardín), theater, and television. She has also written an autobiography, La vuelta a Martirio en 40 trajes (1999). Martirio has received numerous awards, including the Premio Nacional de las Músicas Actuales (2016), the Medalla de Oro al Mérito en las Bellas Artes (2019), and the Premio AIE (2023) for her lifetime contribution to music.
