I would like to celebrate the life of Janet Cortez, a ranchera singer whose stage name was La Perla Tapatia. Cortez was member of beloved singing group Las Tesoros de San Antonio. She died Sunday at 83.
I was fortunate enough to see her perform several times in her trademark bolero hat and black and white cape, but what amazed me was her determination to perform despite a life time of health issues -- including throat cancer.
After 40 surgeries that removed most of her voice box, and having to breathe with a tracheostomy -- a surgically created airway through the neck -- Cortez defied the doctors who said she never would speak again and somehow retained that strong voice.
