Ademilde Fonseca

Origin

São Gonçalo do Amarante, RN

Years Active

1940–2012

Genres

choro, MPB

Instruments

voice

Biography

Ademilde Fonseca Delfino was born in São Gonçalo do Amarante on March 4, 1921, and passed away in Rio de Janeiro on March 27, 2012. She became widely renowned as the greatest interpreter of sung choro, earning the title "Queen of choro" throughout her highly successful artistic career on broadcasters like TV Tupi and with major record labels.

At the age of 19, she married classical guitarist Naldimar Gedeão Delfim and moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1940 in search of new opportunities. In the capital, she was introduced to the musical scene by figures such as Gastão do Rêgo Monteiro, Benedito Lacerda, and Braguinha, recording the classic song Tico-tico no Fubá in 1942 with lyrics by Eurico Barreiros. Her strong bond with choro led composers to create pieces especially for her voice, cementing her name in the history of Brazilian music by interpreting iconic works such as the polka Rato, Rato.

In the following decades, her relevance remained steadfast, having participated in the choro revival of the 1970s as a symbol of cultural resistance, a period during which she received compositions from new MPB names like Paulinho da Viola, Martinho da Vila, as well as João Bosco and Aldir Blanc. She passed away at the age of 91 in Rio de Janeiro, leaving behind an invaluable legacy recorded on dozens of albums that sold hundreds of thousands of copies.

Discography

• À La Miranda (1958)
• Voz + Ritmo = Ademilde Fonseca (1959)
• Chôros Famosos (1960)
• Ademilde Fonseca (1975)
• A Rainha Ademilde & Seus Chorões Maravilhosos (1977)
• A Rainha do Chorinho (1977)
• Queen of Chorinho (2022)
• Tico-tico no fubá (2022)
• Sua MelhorÉpoca (2024)
• Rainha Do Choro (2024)