Alzirinha Camargo

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Years Active

1930

Genres

MPB, samba, march

Instruments

voice

Biography

Alzira Camargo was born in the city of São Paulo, in the traditional neighborhood of Brás, on December 10, 1915. She began her artistic career singing as an amateur on Rádio Record, later working for the Cruzeiro do Sul and Difusora broadcasting stations. In 1931, she appeared in the film Coisas nossas, a pioneering work of Brazilian musical cinema that featured participation from names like Procópio Ferreira and Batista Jr. Her career received a strong boost starting in 1935, when she moved to Rio de Janeiro at the invitation of Sílvia Autuori and signed a contract with Rádio Tupi.

The following year, she made her recording debut with the Victor record label, recording the march "Cinqüenta por cento", by Lamartine Babo, and the samba "Você vai se arrepender". Her repertoire and interpretation style brought her close to great exponents of the time, such as Carmen Miranda, with whom she would come to star in an artistic rivalry after inheriting the success of the march "Querido Adão". Consolidated as one of the great voices of the golden age of radio, Alzirinha toured several countries, performing in Argentina with the Regional de Benedito Lacerda and spending a decade in the United States at the invitation of maestro Ciro Rimac.

Upon returning to Brazil in the 1950s, she joined the cast of Rádio Nacional and participated in high-ratings programs, such as Gente que brilha, in addition to working in television in both São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Throughout her career, she shared stages and the imagination of popular music with great icons of MPB, leaving her mark in recordings and cinematographic productions. She passed away in December 1982, leaving a lasting legacy in the history of Brazilian radio and music.