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Maria Mendiola
Photo: Eventpress / IMAGO
"Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" is a hit that almost everyone knows: The single by the Spanish duo Baccara is one of the best-selling in Germany and has been covered time and time again.
Singer Maria Mendiola has now died at the age of 69.
The news was posted on the duo's Instagram channel by singer Cristina Sevilla, Mendiola's new musical partner.
"It's hard for me to publish," wrote Sevilla in Spanish.
“My dear Maria, wonderful artist and my friend, she left us today.
I can not find any words."
Mendiola was born in Madrid in 1952.
In 1973 she met Mayte Mateos at the Spanish television ballet, together they started their own flamenco dancers and singers and were discovered on Fuerteventura.
The first album "Baccara" with "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" and "Sorry, I'm a Lady" was written by the German producers Rolf Soja and Frank Dostal and became a chart breaker across Europe.
The duo represented Luxembourg at the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest in Paris.
With “Parlez-vous français?” It came in seventh.
Mateos and Mendiola separated in 1982 after differences.
Both tried their luck as solo artists and soon each formed new groups.
The duo of Mendiola first called themselves New Baccara, then again Baccara.
Since then there have been two duos called Baccara who have performed with a similar repertoire.
The success they had celebrated more than 40 years ago should not come close to either of the two women after the separation.
According to the media, Mendiola and Mateos were largely able to reconcile in private.
Mendiola's last single "I belong to your heart" was released in 2016.
cpa / dpa
