All about the legendary performer who was dubbed "the voice of the millennium."

Elsa Suarez - The iconic Brazilian singer who became the queen of samba during her dazzling career. As the sun sets 90-х this woman has been dubbed the singer of the millennium, and some sources call her the "the voice of the millennium". Despite her worldwide success, Suárez's early years were rather bleak, poor and difficult: she lost several children, her house was shelled, Elsa herself was recognised as a danger to . Brazil.

At one point, the singer became outcast in her homeland. Nevertheless, she always remained strong and determined until the last moments of her life worked on the music.

Early years

The future star was born in 1930 a year in the slums Rio de Janeiro in the family of a washerwoman and a factory worker. She had an ordinary and even happy childhood: Elsa played with other children and helped her parents by carrying buckets of water on her head to the house. During these journeys the girl got acquainted with mantises, or rather with the sounds they made. This inspired her to start singing.

"I used to pick them up and listen carefully to the sounds they made. I loved their buzzing - I even tried to repeat it! So, one day I realised that I could sing! That's how my days went by: I carried water and sang..."

As a result, mantis imitation has evolved into one of the most revered voices in the Brazil. Elsa's loved ones also played a significant role in the girl's desire to become a singer:

"My mum and I used to listen to songs on the radio together, and my dad played guitar and sang. I grew up in a very poor, humble family. But it was a really loving, healthy and happy place!"

Elsa's childhood was short-lived, however: in the 12 years her father forced her to marry a local boy. К 13 by the time she was a year old, she had already given birth to her first child, and in the 21 was the mother of seven children, two of whom died before her.

The beginning of an artistic journey

Elsa Suarez She had an incredible style and charisma that helped her make her way to fame. Today, she is spoken of as the most powerful performer in the history of Brazil.

В 1953 year Elsa went to a radio talent show because she needed money to buy medicine for her son. Elsa was ridiculed at first for wearing tattered clothes, but by the time she finished singing, she was considered a winner.

At the beginning of the 60's Suarez. signed her first contract and her professional career as a singer began. One of her early hits is considered to be a cover of the song "Se Acaso Você Chegasse" by Lupinio Rodriguez. After her eponymous debut album was released, Elsa became an instant star.

Very soon Suarez began to be called the queen of samba. The singer herself commented on it as follows:

"Samba is the root of all virtues, right? Samba is where I started. But I think if you can sing, you have to sing everything. You can't allow yourself to be driven to a single rhythm! Because I was black, people thought I had to sing samba. But no, I could sing everything!"

Second record, "A Bossa Negra" (1961).Suárez became a treasure of Brazilian music, and all subsequent releases only strengthened the singer's high-profile status. Suárez sang the harsh aspects of peasant life, poverty and cruelty. But she did it with a genuine passion that struck the world's audiences dead.

From the middle of 60-х and to the middle 80-х years in Brazil flourished military dictatorshipwhich forced many famous artists of the time to leave their native land. Elsa was one of them. Suarez was considered particularly dangerous for the country, and therefore they tried to get rid of her in every possible way: they shelled the woman's house and blew up the hotel where she lived with her children. Luckily, Elsa survived and managed to escape to the centre of the country. Italy.

Key milestones in a dazzling career

At the beginning of the 60-х Elsa has moved into São Paulowhere she performed regularly in shows and recorded her first LP entitled "Se Acaso Você Chegasse.".

A few years later, she represented Brazil in Chile at the World Cup, where she met a football star Garrincha. They began a torrid romance, and in 1966 the couple married.

Over the years, Elsa has released numerous hits including. "Só Danço Samba," "A Banca do Distinto," "Pressentimento.". After living in Italy for several years, Suarez decided to return to her homeland.

Late works

Over the following decade, Elsa was exposed to countless other styles and collaborated with many Brazilian artists: from Caetano Veloso и Zeca Pagodinho before Flavio Renegado и Kiko Dinucci! In the late '90s, a woman won an award Premio Sharp Award as the best samba performer, and in the early 2000s her life was portrayed in a musical.

In recent works, Suarez has tackled poignant social themes ranging from racism to class inequality. In her dazzling long career, she has recorded 36 studio albumsspoke at the opening ceremony Olympic Games 2016 in Rio and was recognised the greatest singer of the last millennium.

The decline of an era

Despite her worldwide success, her personal life Elsa Suarez was overshadowed tragedies. She lost several children at an early age. For example, her 9-year-old son died in 1986 in a car crash. After that, the woman did not want to live. Nevertheless, she found the strength to move on and devoted herself to creativity. After years of searching, she was reunited with her daughter. But in 2015 lost a son the year before: the 59-year-old Gerson died of complications from a urinary tract infection.

Elsa has enjoyed a well-deserved holiday for the past few years:

"I'm doing great! I live a peaceful life: I practically don't leave the house, do sports, listen to music... That's how I spend my days," she said in a recent interview.

20 January 2022 the voice of the millennium is gone. The legendary Brazilian singer died at the in his 91st yearleaving behind a great legacy.