Singer Rita Lee, who died at the age of 75 in São Paulo, on the night of this Monday (8), was born in the capital of São Paulo, the daughter of descendants of immigrants from two different countries, the United States and Italy, that is, the “most complete translation” of the city, as Caetano Veloso wrote in “Sampa”. But Rita Lee may win the first posthumous honor with her name in a public place in another city: Rio de Janeiro.
Mayor Eduardo Paes (PSD) used his Twitter account to say that the singer will give his name to a square in Rio de Janeiro.
Saddened by the death of this woman who marked the lives of my generation and so many others! Oh! Here in Rio, we’re going to fulfill her wish and she’s going to have a square named after her! My condolences to friends, family and the huge legion of fans! https://t.co/Bov9UO0OEF
— Eduardo Paes (@eduardopaes) May 9, 2023
What Paes referred to in the message was a wish that Rita expressed in an interview with Fernanda Young on “Irritando Fernanda Young”, on GNT, a program shown between 2006 and 2010. GNT, between 2002 and 2004, alongside Mônica Waldvogel, Marisa Orth and Young.
In a conversation with Young, she says that she wanted to name a “little square” and even asked her colleague on the show to be responsible for it. “If I’m out there on the parade I still rock it,” Young replied. Rita’s colleague from “Saia Justa” died in 2019 due to respiratory problems.
Rita Lee’s wake will be held at the Planetarium in Ibirapuera Park, in São Paulo, from 10 am to 5 pm this Wednesday (10). The ceremony will be open to the public. Her cremation ceremony will not be open to the public.
Biography
Rita Lee Jones was born on December 31, 1947, in São Paulo, the daughter of dentist Charles Fenley Jones, a descendant of North American immigrants, and pianist Romilda Padula Jones, daughter of Italian immigrants.
The artist had two sisters, Virginia and Mary Lee, and had three children, Beto, João and Antônio, a granddaughter, Izabella, and a grandson, Arthur.
Rita Lee learned to play drums at age 15 and, at 16, joined a female vocal trio, the “Teenage Singers”, participating in concerts and parties at schools.
She formed several musical groups, including the “Six Sided Rockers” and “O Konjunto” – which would later become “Os Bruxos” –, the latter alongside brothers Arnaldo Baptista and Sérgio Dias.
In the 1960s, the trio Rita, Arnaldo and Sérgio became the band “Os Mutantes”, releasing five albums: Os Mutantes (1968), Mutantes (1969), The Divine Comedy or I Walk Half Off (1970), Jardim Elétrico (1971), Mutantes and Their Comets in Bauretz Country (1972).
The first solo album released by Rita Lee was Build Up, from 1970, when he was still in the Mutantes. They performed together until 1972, when the singer decided to launch her solo career with the album “Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life”.
The luck of having been who I am, of being where I am, is nothing compared to my biggest goal: yes, I think I made a lot of people happy.
Rita Lee
Two years later, she released “Atrás do Porto Tem uma Cidade” and, in 1975, “Fruto Proibido”, which sold around 700,000 copies. In 1976, the album “Refestança” was successful with the song “Ovelha Negra”, which occupied the first position in the charts of the country.
Also in 1974, Rita Lee joined the band “Tutti Frutti”, which had four more albums.
From 1979, she produced her records in partnership with her husband, Roberto de Carvalho, among them Rita Lee It is Health. In 1995, he opened for the British band the Rolling Stones.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the artist launched Here, There, Anywhere (Bossa’n’Beatles) It is balacobacoin 2001 and 2003, respectively.
Farewell to the stage took place in 2012. Since then, appearances by the queen of rock have become rare.
Actress, presenter and writer
Rita Lee’s vast and diversified career also included performances and presentations on Brazilian television.
She acted in the film “Dias Melhores Virão”, in the short film “Tanta Estrela por Aí…” – having won an award at the Film Festival in Gramado –, and in “Durval Discos”.
In addition, Rita participated in the soap operas “Top Model” and “Vamp”. She also presented the program “TVLeezão”, on MTV, and was part of the program Saia Justa, on GNT.
Rita Lee also had a writing streak, publishing the children’s books “Dr. Alex – Quem Canta Count”, “Dr. Alex and the Kings of Angra” and “Dr. Alex in the Amazon”.
In 2016, she published an autobiography, in which she tells details from the beginning of her musical career, family troubles to unpublished photos.
They say that Capricorns are born old and die children, that they are ambitious and disciplined, in these I recognize myself more in the Aquarius ascendant, from the visionary fuck-mad
Rita Lee
A second autobiography was also being produced. The singer had shared a video of the book on social networks in early May this year.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.
