Rosinha de Valença's 1964 Debut Album Celebrated in Brazilian Music Column

Maria Rosa Canellas, born July 30, 1941 in Valença, Rio de Janeiro, became the pioneering guitarist Rosinha de Valença. Influenced by her brother Roberto and uncle Fio da Mulata, she began studying guitar in childhood. At age 12, she performed locally before moving to Rio de Janeiro in 1963. Introduced to producer Aloysio de Oliveira by chronicler Sergio Porto, she performed for eight months at the legendary Bottles club. Her debut album 'Apresentando Rosinha de Valença' was released in 1964 by Elenco Records, featuring artwork by Cesar Villela and Francisco Pereira. The album included arrangements by Oscar Castro Neves and tracks like 'Consolação' by Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes. In 1964, she joined the TV Record show 'O Fino da Bossa' with Elis Regina and Jair Rodrigues. The following year, she toured the United States with Sergio Mendes's Brasil 65', alongside Jorge Ben and Wanda Sá. She later performed with Maria Bethânia in 1967 and toured Europe and Africa in 1968, playing with Stan Getz and Sarah Vaughan. In the 1970s, she collaborated with Martinho da Vila. Her final recording was the 1980 album 'Violões em Dois Estilos' with Waltel Branco. After a cardiac arrest in 1992 led to a vegetative state, she died on June 10, 2004. A tribute album 'Namorando a Rosa' was released in 2004 by Biscoito Fino.