Singer Mariana Montalvo, like many other Chilean artists and intellectuals, was forced into exile in France when Augosto Pinochet took power in a 1973 military coup. But she kept the music of her homeland in her heart, integrating it with French chanson elements of instrumentation.

"I left Chile as a young woman, but the music stayed with me," Montalvo said recently by phone. "I am so honored to share my music with the world."

Montalvo is one of three South American women singing Saturday at Rutgers University's Gordon Theater in Camden. Along with Brazilian Belo Velloso and Columbian singer Toto La Momposina, she'll take to the stage as part of world music record label Putumayo's first multi-city tour, titled Latinas: Women of South America.

Montalvo's distinct brand of music melds elements of Chilean folk music and French balladry. And it is, she said, far different from what many people expect when they think of Latin music.

"It's not for dancing," Montalvo said. "It's much slower than that, and there are stories behind my songs. But it brings me close to the audience."

And that, according to Putumayo founder and CEO Dan Storper, is a good part of what the tour is about: bringing world music to mainstream listeners.

The tour, which ties in with the release of Putumayo's compilation Latinas: Women of Latin America, will hit 30 cities by the end of November. It's the first time the 11-year-old boutique record label has put together and promoted its own tour.

"We've done a few smaller, thematic events, but nothing of this scope," said Storper by phone. "We're all very excited about this."

The tour has been a year in the making and grew around the women musicians. Putumayo, whose themed albums with colorfully illustrated covers and often fascinating liner notes, has long championed women singers from around the world, Storper said.

"We've helped bring some wonderful voices of women from around the world to a broader audience," he said.

"Each album we do is an attempt to introduce melodic music from around the world that you won't find on the radio. Our motto is to bring listeners music that's `guaranteed to make you feel good,' and that's what we strive for."

The three women performing on the tour have been featured on past Putumayo recordings and are all featured on the CD Latinas: Women of South America. None of the women has extensively toured the United States and the three are expected to reach their biggest English-speaking audience ever, Storper said.

For Montalvo, the idea is exhilarating and frightening.

"I've done some shows recently in New York and the audiences were wonderful: They let me explain the songs in English, even though my English is not perfect," she said. "And they seemed to very much enjoy the music."

Montalvo draws on a musical spirit of happiness and sadness. Montalvo's latest solo CD, Piel de Aceituna, was released last month.

Toto La Momposina hails from Mompos Island in Colombia's Magdalena River, a place where the cultures of Native Indians and escaped African slaves converged.

As a young woman, she traveled from village to village researching rhythms and dances. Her performances are supported by blasting horns and the percussion-heavy accompaniment of cactus wood flutes, or gaitas.

Brazilian Belo Velloso, the niece of South American superstar Caetano Veloso, cut her teeth on Musica Popular Brasileira, a popular radio format in Brazil, as well as samba and bossa nova.

"We're very proud to showcase these three women," Storper said. "They are extraordinarily talented, in any language."