Elza Soares | Artist
Elza Gomes da Conceição was a Brazilian singer born 1930 in Padre Miguel, Rio de Janeiro. Her father Avelino Gomes was a factory worker and guitarist, and her mother Rosária Maria da Conceição was a washerwoman. Growing up in the impoverished Moça Bonita favela, at age twelve she was forced by her father to marry Lourdes Antônio Soares and within a year gave birth to her first child, João Carlos. Soares liked to sing, and when she needed money for medicine for her son, she participated in a vocal contests. At fifteen, she gave birth to her second child, who died. After her husband became ill with tuberculosis, she began working at the Veritas soap factory. At twenty-one, with dreams of becoming a singer, she became a widow, left alone to raise her children: four boys and one girl. Soares had her first radio audition when she was 16. Winning first place, she was hired as a singer by the Orquestra Garam de Bailes, where she worked until 1954. She was soon invited to star in the play Jour-Jou-Fru-Fru, which was a smash. Three years later, she toured Argentina, returning the next year when she was hired by Rádio Vera Cruz. Also in 1959, she recorded the single "Se Acaso Você Chegasse" which became a big hit. In 1960, she went to São Paulo, where she performed regularly and recorded her first album Se Acaso Você Chegasse. After several more albums with the hits "Só Danço Samba", "A Banca do Distinto", "Pressentimento", and "Princesa Isabel", she moved to Italy in 1969, for three years where she performed at the Sistina Theater in Rome. After a mid-career hiatus Soares was rediscovered in the '80s as a cult heroine by Portugese rock band Os Titãs, performing regularly with the band at the Madame Satã nightclub. Soares also recorded in duet with Caetano Veloso on his album Velô, and with Lobão on Casa de Samba. Her 1997 album Trajetória won the Prêmio Sharp Award for Best Samba Singer. In November 1999, Soares participated in the show Desde Que o Samba é Samba at Royal Albert Hall, London, together with Chico Buarque, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa and Virginia Rodrigues. Owner of a distinctive voice and a flamboyant style, Elza Soares was one of the most popular and influential samba singers. She became a successful recording artist, with her second album, A Bossa Negra (1961), being considered a treasure of Brazilian music. With her voice and songs, Soares always celebrated the gritty aspects of peasant life. Her passionate, exaggerated style won over audiences in Brazil and across the world. Admired by artists such as Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque and Nick Cave, to name a few, she was awarded best female singer of the millennium by the BBC, along with Tina Turner.
Artist Website: wikipedia/Elza_Soares
Featured Albums: Elza Soares
Related Artists: Miltinho, Roberto Ribeiro
