Biography
Odete Amaral achieved notable recognition during the 1940s and 1950s through recordings such as “Murmurando,” “Vem, Amor” (Chocolate/Jorge de Castro), “Nasci Para Sofrer” (Chocolate/Jorge de Castro), “Quando Eu Falo Com Você” (Mário Rossi/Gadé), “Girassol” (Mário Rossi), “Divina Visão,” and additional titles. Her radio peers held her in high esteem, frequently enlisting her for choral contributions on discs by Carmen Miranda, Francisco Alves, Mário Reis, Almirante, and other leading performers. She appeared across virtually every station of her era and belonged to the roster at the acclaimed Rádio Nacional. Amaral also entered cinema, appearing in the Cinédia production Samba da Vida. After an impoverished upbringing and employment at a textile mill, her sister escorted her in 1935 to Rádio Guanabara for an audition of “Minha Embaixada Chegou” (Assis Valente); acceptance led to a spot on the Suburbano program alongside Carmen Miranda, Noel Rosa, Sílvio Caldas, Marília Batista, Almirante, and further artists. Almirante then introduced her to Rádio Clube, while she joined the ensembles at Sociedade, Philips, and Cruzeiro do Sul as well. Her stage debut occurred in a João Caetano revue when she performed “Ganhou Mas Não Leva” (Milton Amaral). Following the release of her debut album Sim Ou Não, Ary Barroso guided her to RCA Victor, where she cut his batucada “Foi de Madrugada” and marcha “Colibri.” In 1935 she took part in the inauguration of Cassino Atlântico and subsequently joined Rádio Ipanema. She contracted with Rádio Mayrink Veiga in 1936 and entered the Rádio Nacional cast the following year. During 1939 she contributed to Samba da Vida, relocated to São Paulo, and accepted a position at Rádio Cultura; for eighteen months she toured Brazil with her then-husband Ciro Monteiro between broadcasts. She rejoined Mayrink Veiga in 1941 and remained until 1947. That station’s era included her 1942 recordings of the marcha “Maior Que o Mundo” (Edgar de Almeida) and the samba-choro “Não Quero Dizer Adeus” by Laurindo de Almeida. Her greatest success arrived in 1945 with the choro “Murmurando” (Fon-Fon/Mário Rossi). Todamérica issued her first LP in 1957. She joined the nationwide live broadcast of the M.P.B. 100 Ao Vivo series on Rádio MEC in 1975; the thirty-program cycle produced eight LPs under Ricardo Cravo Albin’s supervision. In 1977 she headlined the revue Café Nice with Paulo Marques, Alda Garrido, and Altamiro Carrilho.
Albums
