Angela Maria born 13 May 1929

Angela Maria (13 May 1929 – 29 September 2018), was a Brazilian singer and actress. She was elected "Queen of the Radio" in 1954 and was considered the most popular singer of that decade in Brazil. 

She was born Abelim Maria da Cunha in Conceição de Macabu, Rio de Janeiro State, the 10th child of Albertino Coutinho Cunha, a farmer who later became a Baptist pastor, and Julita Maria da Cunha. Because the family was very poor, Abelim spent part of her childhood living in other households, sometimes doing menial work. 

Her talent was first spotted when she sang in churches as a teenager. Eager to sing for larger audiences, she would sneak out of services against the wishes of her family to compete in amateur radio competitions, which she entered under what would ultimately become her stage name. The competitions yielded prizes, which she stashed in a shoe box at home. She soon began entertaining the idea of recording an album. As a young adult, she made a meager living working in a factory, where she dazzled colleagues by belting out semi-operatic songs like Gounod’s “Ave Maria.” 

                                    

Angela Maria became an instant hit when radio stations began playing her first records in the early 1950s. By the end of the decade, having won numerous awards and become the country’s most well-paid singer, she began hosting live television shows. She was affectionately called by President Getulio Vargas "Sapoti" – a nickname that would accompany her throughout the career. She maintained a punishing schedule, often shuttling between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

 “Angela came out of the Italian bel canto tradition and had Latin American influence, especially the bolero,” said Rodrigo Faour, who wrote a biography of her. “Her voice is powerful, it’s warm and mesmerizing, it’s not music you can put on in the background. And it had an ‘open sesame’ effect. Every time she sang, doors opened.” 

Among her biggest hits were the rumba “Babalu” and the ballads "Labios de mel" ("Honey lips"), “Não Tenho Você” (“I Don’t Have You”) and “Vá, mas Volte” (“Leave, but Come Back”). Angela Maria had a wildly successful recording career and performed in sold-out halls well into her 80s, her voice still vibrant. She was equally at home performing tangos, cha-chas and boleros. 

Angela with Carmen Mirands

She recorded more than 650 songs and appeared in 20 films. She was also the subject of intense tabloid scrutiny. At a time when divorce was frowned upon in Brazil, she broke a cultural taboo by marrying four times, most controversially to Mr. D’Angelo, with whom she had moved in when she was 52 and he was 18. 

The Brazilian singer and actress Carmen Miranda was also a fan. Angela Maria was startled to learn that Ms. Miranda ( who was older and had became a luminary in Hollywood) was an avid collector of her albums. Ms. Miranda contacted her to request a meeting 14 years after leaving Brazil. “She was my idol,” Angela Maria said. “When I heard she wanted to see me I froze.” Along with Ms. Miranda and Dalva de Oliveira, Angela became the matrix of Brazilian singers. She gave popular composers powerful, sophisticated renditions. 

Unlike other radio stars of her era, she retained a strong following during the bossa nova and tropicália eras in the late 1950s and 1960s. She was still performing frequently when samba made a comeback in the ’70s and weathered changing styles into the ’90s. Her music had an impact on many prominent Brazilian musicians, including Milton Nascimento, Maria Bethânia and Djavan. The renowned singer Elis Regina said she had been “tremendously influenced” by Angela Maria. 

Angela Maria died just a few months before her 90th birthday, on September 29, 2018, at the age of 89, as a result of a generalized infection, which led to cardiac arrest. She had been hospitalized for 34 days in a hospital in the South Zone of São Paulo. 

(Edited from Brazilian Pop & Wikipedia)