Mary Gonçalves

Origin

Santos, SP

Also known as

Nice Figueiredo Rocha

Genres

samba-canção, bolero, baião, MPB

Instruments

voice

Biography

Mary Gonçalves, stage name of Nice Figueiredo Rocha, was born in Santos on October 25, 1927. An actress and singer, she began her artistic journey in the 1940s, participating in the film Gente Honesta in 1944, although her name did not appear in the official credits. In the early 1950s, she consolidated her musical career upon being hired by the prestigious Rádio Nacional and making her record debut with the Sinter label in 1951, performing samba-canção accompanied by Lírio Panicali's ensemble.

Throughout the decade, she stood out in the scene of the Golden Age of Brazilian radio, being crowned Queen of Radio in 1952 with a significant vote count. During this period, she recorded important compositions of Brazilian popular music, recording works by renowned authors such as Johnny Alf, Billy Blanco, Dorival Caymmi, and Luiz Bonfá. Her discography included stints with the Odeon label, where she expanded her repertoire by recording boleros, baiões, and sambas.

Despite artistic recognition and the quality of her interpretations, Mary Gonçalves ended her discography in the second half of the 1950s and abandoned her artistic career, moving to Colombia and later settling in Texas, where she passed away in 1993. Her contribution to Brazilian popular music remained marked by the phonographic recordings of the early 1950s, alongside great arrangers and composers of the era such as Lírio Panicali.

Discography

• Convite ao Romance (1952)
• Obsessão / Diga
• Mary Gonçalves com Don Roy e Sua Grande Orquestra – Meu Sonho / Nem Eu