[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 20 (Thursday, January 31, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E120-E121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING MS. RITA VIDAURRI EDEN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOAQUIN CASTRO

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 31, 2019

  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of 
Ms. Rita Vidaurri Eden, who passed away on January 16, 2019. A true 
Latina musician and icon, Ms. Vidaurri Eden hails from my hometown of 
San Antonio. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Palewich Alvarado; 
her sister Henrietta Rodriguez; a stepbrother, Ruben Vidaurri; four 
stepsisters, Yvan, Rita, Sofia, and Ellena Vidaurri; numerous nephews, 
nieces, and 5 generations of grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.
  Ms. Rita Vidaurri Eden was born in San Antonio on May 22, 1924 to 
Juan and Maria Castillo Vidaurri. At an early age, Ms. Vidaurri Eden 
showed a keen interest in the performing arts and was encouraged most 
notably by her mother who passed when she was a teenager.
  Left with the care and responsibility of her younger siblings, Ms. 
Vidaurri Eden persisted, keeping her passion for singing alive while 
attending night school by performing on Mexican radio, competing in 
music contests, and working as an advertising model.
  Ms. Vidaurri Eden was known for her unrivaled performance in 
Ranchera, a traditional Mexican country music genre that often features 
love ballads and odes to home. She soon earned the nickname ``La 
Calandria,'' or the ``Lark'' whose powerful voice resonated throughout 
every venue where she performed. By the late 1950s and at the height of 
her career, Ms. Vidaurri Eden retired from the stage, only later 
reviving her singing career at the age of 80. In 2001, Ms. Vidaurri 
Eden along with Beatriz Llamas, Blanca Rodriguez and Janet Cortez, 
formed a group of elder cantantes--referred to as ``Las Tesoros del 
Westside,'' or the beloved ``the Treasures of the Westside.''
  Ms. Vidaurri Eden performed across Latin America and the nation. She 
performed on stage with Mexican artists such as Jorge Negrete, 
Cantinflas, and sang alongside Nat King Cole, Eydie Gorme, and Celia 
Cruz. She continued to sing until the end of her life.
  Madam Speaker, I stand with confidence knowing that the passing of 
Ms. Rita Vidaurri Eden does not mark the conclusion of her legacy. Ms. 
Vidaurri Eden's journey will be forever carried by her timeless music, 
by fans, and the countless aspiring singers who look to her as a beacon 
of possibility.
  Ms. Vidaurri Eden's passion for music could only be matched by her 
perseverance. Her

[[Page E121]]

legacy will forever be marked by countless admirations and accolades. I 
am proud to call ``La Calandria'' a pillar in our San Antonio 
community.

                          ____________________