Helena Meirelles

Helena Pereira Meirelles (August 13, 1924 – September 28, 2005) was a Brazilian folk and viola caipira guitarist, singer, and composer from Bataguassu. Meirelles taught herself to perform on the 6, 8, 10, and 12-string violas in secret during her youth. After decades of performing at regional bars and festivities, Meirelles gave a first professional theater performance at age 67. In 1993, Guitar Player magazine selected Meirelles as one of the number 100 best instrumentalists in the world. Meirelles released the debut album Helena Meirelles in 1994. Subsequent recordings include Flor de guavira (1996), Raiz pantaneira (1997), and the live album Ao vivo (2002), also known as De volta ao Pantanal. In 2004, Meirelles contributed to the compilation Os bambas da viola. Meirelles was the subject of the 2004 film Helena Meirelles – A Dama da Viola. In 2012, Rolling Stone Brasil included Meirelles in the list of the 30 greatest Brazilian icons of guitar. Meirelles died in Campo Grande on September 28, 2005.