El Mundo
January 15, 2026
This Friday his funeral will take place in the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Miracles, in El Puerto, at 12.15 p.m. Rest in peace.
The Porto singer Mercedes Valimaña Lechuga, known as Merche 'La Macaria', has died at the age of 89 in her hometown, El Puerto de Santa María.
Her name was linked to different stages of Spanish popular music, with activity in vocal formations, live accompaniments and studio work. Throughout his career, he participated in collective projects and also in recordings signed with his own name.
In addition to her facet as a singer, she developed tasks related to voice work for audiovisual productions and series tunes, as well as for advertising campaigns. His professional profile combined formal musical training with continuous presence on stage and recording.
The artist's projection was consolidated by her membership of the La La La Trio. Together with María Jesús Aguirre and María Dolores Arenas, he was part of the choir that supported Massiel in 1968. That year, Massiel won the Eurovision Song Contest for Spain.
Merche's career in the contest included more participations with the Spanish delegation. He was the person who went to Eurovision the most times with this Spanish delegation, as a backup singer for Julio Iglesias (1970), Karina (1971), Sergio y Estíbaliz (1975) and José Vélez (1978).
His professional activity was based on a broad musical preparation. He studied Piano and Solfeggio at the Academy of Fine Arts of Santa Cecilia. He also completed the Higher Piano degree in Seville. This training is linked to his performance as a performer and his participation in different musical projects.
He participated in concerts and tours of other artists, including the Dúo Dinámico, José Luis Perales and Luis Aguilé. These collaborations are part of her activity as vocal support in live performances. She also worked as a voice actress in well-known series and films, including Cinderella, Pocahontas 2 and Lady and the Tramp. This professional aspect was linked to the work of vocal interpretation for audiovisual productions.
His voice was also present in the tunes of series such as La Abeja Maya, Calle Sésamo, Once upon a time the man and Fraggle Rock. In the same way, his participation in advertising campaigns for Coca-Cola, Heno de Pravia, Soberano, Martini and Las muñecas de Famosa is mentioned.
The mayor of El Puerto, Germán Beardo, has expressed his condolences. This Friday his funeral will take place in the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Miracles, in El Puerto, at 12.15 p.m. Rest in peace.
VALIMANA, Mercedes (Mercedes Valimaña Lechuga)
Born: 1/29/1936, El Puerto de Santa María
Died: 1/15/2026, El Puerto de Santa María
Mercedes Valimaña’s westerns – voice actor:
Pocahontas 2 [Spanish voice of Señora Jenkins]
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