Isaura Garcia

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Also known as

Isaurinha Garcia

Years Active

1938–1993

Genres

samba, jazz, bossa nova, MPB

Instruments

voice

Biography

Isaura Garcia, affectionately known as Isaurinha, was born in São Paulo on February 26, 1923. The daughter of immigrants, she began her artistic journey in a humble way, singing in her father's bar and participating in radio talent shows until achieving national recognition by winning a contest on Rádio Record in 1938. Over a career spanning more than fifty years, she established herself as one of the greatest interpreters of Brazilian music, recording over three hundred songs and moving through genres such as samba, jazz, and bossa nova.

Her striking voice and talent transformed her into one of the big names of the golden age of radio, having been strongly inspired in the beginning by pioneers such as Carmen Miranda and Aracy de Almeida. She was also linked to other great names of the Brazilian musical scene, having been married to the talented organist Walter Wanderley and having recorded and interpreted works by renowned composers. Isaurinha passed away in her hometown on August 30, 1993, leaving an eternal legacy immortalized in anthological recordings such as the song "Mensagem".

The singer's cultural importance reverberated far beyond her life, inspiring reissues of her work, biographies, and highly successful theatrical productions. Fundamental names of national music such as Dolores Duran, Chico Buarque, and Nelson Gonçalves — with whom she shared important artistic moments — crossed her path or kept her influence alive. Her art remains alive in the pantheon of Brazilian popular music, being remembered as one of our greatest interpretation divas.

Discography

• A Personalíssima (1957)
• Foi A Noite (1958)
• Sempre Personalíssima (1959)
• Saudade Querida (1960)
• Isaura Garcia (1961)
• A Pedida É Samba (1961)
• Atualíssima (1963)
• Sambas da Madrugada (1963)
• Chico Buarque de Hollanda e Noel Rosa na Voz de Isaura Garcia (1968)
• Ary Barroso e Billy Blanco na Voz de Isaura Garcia vol.2 (1969)
• Martinho da Vila e Dolores Duran na voz de Isaura Garcia (1969)
• Ary Barroso e Billy Blanco " na Voz de Isaura Garcia" (1969)
• Isaura Garcia, Noite Ilustrada – Papo Furado (1970)
• Isaurinha Garcia Nua & Crua Ao Vivo (1976)
• Eu, Isaura Garcia (1978)
• O Fino da Fossa Vol. 4 (1981)
• O Fino da Fossa (1981)
• Documento Inédito (1987)
• Isaurinha Garcia 90 anos (2013)
• São Paulo Boleros (2022)
• Personalíssima (2023)
• No Compasso do Samba (2024)
• Noites Quentes de Dança de Samba (2024)
• Hoje é pra Saudade - Brazilian Jazz & Bossa Nova (2025)