Biography

Rosinha de Valença was at her peak during the '60s when she was performing at the Bottle's nightclub in Rio (one of the focal points of bossa nova). In that decade, she was celebrated by important artists like Baden Powell, Maria Bethânia, Aloysio de Oliveira (who invited her to record her first album), Sérgio Mendes (with whom she and his band, Brasil 65, performed during an eight-month American tour), Sivuca, Martinho da Vila, and others. She was forced to abandon her artistic career prematurely in 1992 due to brain damage caused by a heart attack. She left her hometown for Rio de Janeiro in 1963, sitting in several nightclubs until she became acquainted with de Oliveira, who at the time owned the Elenco recording company. At his invitation, Valença recorded her debut album, Apresentando Rosinha de Valença, which was followed by a very successful eight-month season at the Bottle's nightclub, at the Beco das Garrafas. The popularity she achieved in that period yielded her several invitations for participation in TV and radio shows, ultimately bringing her to the stage at the historic show O Fino da Bossa (the first bossa nova show in the city of São Paulo), at the Paramount Theater. She left for her eight-month tour through the U.S. that same year, accompanying Sérgio Mendes and Brasil 65. During that tour, she participated in the recording of two live albums: Brasil '65 -- Wanda de Sah Featuring the Sergio Mendes Trio and In Person at El Matador -- Sergio Mendes & Brasil '65. In late 1965, she toured Europe, performing in 24 countries under the auspices of the Brazilian diplomatic service. In 1968, she departed for a long international season in which she performed in several countries of Africa, Europe, and Middle East, returning to Brazil in 1971. After intense activity that comprised more tours abroad, she formed a band in Brazil which counted on João Donato, Miúcha, Ivone Lara, and Copinha. Along with her nine albums released in Brazil, Valença also recorded others in Europe and the U.S. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi