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Clementina de Jesus

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Clementina de Jesus (1901 to 1987) was a Brazilian samba singer. She was born in Carambita, a district on the edge of Valença, south of Rio de Janeiro, and at the age of eight moved with her family to the Osvaldo Cruz district of Rio. For years she followed the samba school Portela, and in 1940, after her marriage, she went to the samba school Mangueira. For more than twenty years she worked as a maid. In 1963 the composer Hermínio Bello de Carvalho discovered her. He asked her to take part in the show Rosa de Ouro in several Brazilian state capitals and made her first record for Odeon.

Music and breakthrough

Her professional career began only at the age of sixty-three. Her distinctive voice can be heard on Rosa de Ouro 1 in 1965, Clementina de Jesus in 1966, Rosa de Ouro 2 in 1967, Fala Mangueira! in 1968 and Marinheiro só in 1973, among others. She also recorded with well-known samba musicians such as Pixinguinha and João da Bahiana. In Brazil she was called Mamãe. Elton Medeiros sang about her in Clementina, cadê você?, and Clara Nunes in 1977 in a song by Candeia. In 1983 artists such as Paulinho da Viola, João Nogueira and Elizeth Cardoso celebrated her with a show at the Teatro Municipal in Rio.

Influence

Despite her late start and short career she is one of the most popular female singers in Brazil. She is known for her contribution to carnival music and because she identified with the poor. Her singing shows how samba from the Afro-Brazilian community keeps its roots in an older singing tradition.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a track from her album Rosa de Ouro 1 and notice her raw, deep voice and the chorus that answers. Try to hear how call and response carry the song, with percussion beneath.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists