Maysa Matarazzo

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1956–1977

Genres

samba-canção, bossa nova, mpb

Instruments

voice, acoustic guitar

Biography

Maysa Matarazzo, artistic name of Maysa Figueira Monjardim, stood out as one of the greatest interpreters, songwriters, and actresses in Brazilian music. Born in Rio de Janeiro and from a traditional family from Espírito Santo, she began her career unexpectedly in the 1950s when she recorded a charity album that quickly achieved success in the Rio-São Paulo axis. Her melancholic voice and visceral style made her one of the main precursors and exponents of samba-canção and the so-called "dor-de-cotovelo" (heartbreak songs), imbuing her performances with an intensely dramatic and romantic aesthetic.

Throughout the 1960s, Maysa expanded her artistic frontiers by joining the bossa nova movement, participating in historic tours across Latin America and becoming the first Brazilian singer to perform in Japan. She shared stages and projects with major names in Brazilian music, such as Roberto Menescal, Ronaldo Bôscoli, and Dolores Duran, in addition to recording albums internationally. Her versatility also led her to act in television and theater the following decade, receiving awards as a supporting actress.

In the final years of her life, she partially withdrew from the stage, living reclusive in Maricá while facing periods of depression. Her career was tragically cut short in January 1977, as the victim of a car accident on the Rio-Niterói Bridge. She left behind a striking legacy of intimate songs and a unique interpretation that influenced generations of Brazilian popular music.