Chavela Vargas, La Llorona (Mexican Blues according to Tamayo)

"Once, at a party in my house, his eyes alittle bloodshot from drinking wine, Leadbelly cornered Rufino Tamayo, the great mexican painter. 'Sing us a Mexican blues,' he demanded. 'We don't have blues in Mexico,' said Rufino, a little frightened. (Leadbelly had recently served a sentence at Riker's Island for assault.) He handed Rufino a guitar. After a moment's hesitation, he sang 'La Llorona,' a lament about love's frustration, a tender song from Mexico's Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Leadbelly listened attentively and,  obviously moved by the pathos of its melody, slapped Rufino on the back: 'See, Mr. Tamayo, didn't I tell you? Everybody's got the blues.'

Around the World in 80 Years: A Memoir, Henrietta Yurchenco