Elizeth Cardoso

Iconic singer and actress Elizeth Cardoso was born on July 16, 2020 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. While more of a choro vocalist than a bossa nova singer, her bossa nova recordings introduced audiences to the genre. She was discovered at her 16^th birthday party by Brazilian composer Jacob do Bandolem. She began performing on various radio shows beginning in 1936. By 1939, she also begin performing live in various venues. Due to her rising popularity, she recorded her first single, “Braços vazios”/”Mensageiro da saudade”, in 1950. While her first single was not successful, she had a hit with her second single “Complexo”/”Canção de amor”. She then began appearing on television and started her film career. Her 1958 album Canção do Amor Demais was co-written by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes and featured the guitar work of Joāo Gilberto. Canção do Amor Demais is now considered to be the first bossa nova album. She was the featured vocalist on the bossa nova classic “Manhã de Carnaval”, taken from the Orfeu Negro soundtrack. Cardoso continued to record and act until her death on May 7, 1990.