María Amparo Ochoa Castaños, (1946-1994) better know as Amparo Ochoa, was a Mexican singer-songwriter. She was one of several other Mexican artists emerging in the 1960's who belonged to a genre known as Nueva canción.
Ochoa was born in 1946 in the Mexican state of Sinaloa and was raised primarily in Costa Rica. Before becoming involved in music, Ochoa served as an elementary school teacher. She became heavily involved in songwriting starting in 1962, and her career took off when she won a contest in her native state with the song "Hermosísimo Lucero".
In 1969, she moved to Mexico City to attend a music school. Shortly after, she released her first album De la mano del viento.
Ochoa is best known for writing songs with strong messages against social injustice as well songs about Mexican history and culture. Most of her lyrics focus on poverty, indigenous rights, and women's rights.
(1) http://musicaparasiempre.com/bin/musica.cgi?q=bio&id=Amparo%20Ochoa