by MdC Suingue
Another giant of Brazilian music leaves this world. This time it’s Beth Carvalho, aka the ‘Godmother of Samba’. A singer known for her silky voice and great repertoire. Born to a Rio de Janeiro middle class family, she flirted with bossa nova, MPB and even forró. Her singing career was launched in the mid 1960s when she had her first hit, ‘Andanças. But all that was before she became a full-time sambista and dived into the world of the suburbs, Lapa, favelas and the music from avery different reality from the one she was born into...
...She handpicked her songs at first rescuing the work of veterans like Cartola and Nelson Cavaquinho. Later, when she was well established as one of the samba scene, she gained the well deserved nickname of Godmother of Samba for singing and embracing the art of new composers and singers that she came across in the many rootsy ‘rodas de samba’ that she used to take part in.
A classic example was the scene brewed around Cacique de Ramos, that changed the face and structure of popular samba and gave us names such as Originais do Samba, Almir Guineto (who was the subject of yet another ‘memorial’ CAS show), Arlindo Cruz and Zeca Pagodinho. With a discography comprising more than 31 albums - among them some compilations, live recordings and DVDs - unfortunately Beth was at a certain point a campaigner against the exchange and distribution of music via the internet, so you will notice that it’s quite hard to find her studio albums online: most of her material on the web are recordings of live performances. Check some of them out below. Our vids of the week are: Beth Carvalho - Folhas Secas & Hora de Chorar Here Beth sings Folhas Secas by Nelson Cavaquinho and Hora de Chorar composed by Jorginho do Império and Mano Décio Da Viola in the TV program presented by Elizeth Cardoso, a veteran of Brazilian samba back in 1973. Beth Carvalho and Trapalhões - Coisinha do Pai Trapalhões was a very popular comedy show presented on Sunday afternoons in Brazil. Here she sings one of her greatest comercial hits, Coisinha do Pai. composed by Jorge Aragão, Almir Guineto and Luís Carlos. Two curious facts: Mussum, the black comedian in the video was a sambista part of Fundo de Quintal, a samba combo formed at Cacique de Ramos, a carnival 'bloco' that Beth 'adopted' and presented to national audience. He became very popular as a film and TV star. And talking about stars, Coisinha do Pai was probably the only Brazilian music played in... Mars! TRUE! A vida e o samba de Beth Carvalho by Meteoro If you understand Portuguese, we recommend this little piece of journalism. A nice and sincere account of Beth's life and career made by the video blog Meteoro Brasil. Beth Carvalho at Montreux Jazz Festival Beth Carvalho toured abroad frequently, and one of the greatest achievements of her international career was her first performance at Montreux Jazz Festival in 1987. Enjoy the full presentation of the 'Godmother of Samba' in her prime. BUT FIRST THE PLAYLIST: 
Beth Carvalho - Folhas Secas
Beth Carvalho - Coisinha do Pai com Trapalhões
A vida e o samba de Beth Carvalho by Meteoro
Beth Carvalho at Montreux
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