Rita Lee, known as the queen of brazilian rock, due to its importance in the construction of the musical genre in the country. She was the granddaughter of Italian immigrants on the mother's side.
The statement was made by the family this Tuesday (09/05), through a note on the singer and songwriter's social networks: “We announce the death of Rita Lee, at her residence, in São Paulo, capital, at the end of last night (Monday), surrounded by all the love of your family, as you always wanted.”
The artist was diagnosed with lung cancer in May 2021.
The wake will be open to the public, at Ibirapuera Park Planetarium, this Wednesday (10/05), from 10 am to 17 pm.
Italian blood
Rita Lee Jones de Carvalho was born on December 31, 1947 in São Paulo (SP). She was the youngest of the dentist's three daughters Charles Fenley Jones, from São Paulo, a descendant of North Americans settled in Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, in the interior of São Paulo, and from Romilda Padula, also from São Paulo and daughter of Italian immigrants who came from the region of Molise, in south-central Italy.
Your maternal grandparents, Domenico Padula e Clorinda Inforzato they got married in Rio Claro, in the interior of São Paulo. They were both Molisanos, he was Civitanova del Sannio and she from Chiauci. It was also in Rio Claro that Rita's mother, Romilda Padula, was born.
The “Lee” included in the daughters’ names was their father’s tribute to the general Robert E Lee, of the American Confederate Army.
Passion for music
Rita Lee grew up in the neighborhood of Vila Marianawhere she took piano lessons and was influenced early on by the rock of Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones, but also by the Brazilian music her parents listened to at home, with MPB classics like Cauby Peixoto, Angela Maria, Maysa, and João Gilberto.
He began to compose the first songs as a teenager and joining bands with friends.
In 1963, Rita Lee formed with two other singers the Teenage Singers, who performed small shows at high school parties. With Os Seis, another band he was part of, he recorded his first compact, with two songs. The departure of three members of the sextet ended up leaving the trio formed by Rita, Arnaldo Baptista e Sergio Dias, which was renamed Os Bruxos. At Ronnie Von's suggestion, the group changed its name to The mutants.
The mutants
With the brothers Arnaldo and Sérgio Dias Baptista, Rita recorded some of the fundamental albums of Brazilian rock, composing and starring in memorable performances, such as in 1967, when the group accompanied Gilberto Gil at the III Festival of Brazilian Popular Music, on Record TV, with the presentation of Sunday at the park.
Rita was married to her colleague Arnaldo Baptista between 1968 and 1972, but the marriage ended due to disagreements about the band's direction, which caused the singer to leave the group.
Tutti-frutti
In the 1970s, Rita Lee formed the band Tutti-frutti and recorded several successful albums, such as Fruto Proibido, from 1975, which would enshrine the singer with the title of queen of Brazilian rock, with tracks such as Now All I Miss is You, This Roque Enrow and Ovelha Negra.
With the entrance of the guitarist Roberto de Carvalho In the band, Rita Lee began a musical and loving partnership that would last a lifetime. Rita and Roberto had three children: Beto Lee, in 1977, João, in 1979 and Antônio, in 1981.
In the musical area, the partnership yielded several hits, such as Mania de Você, Chega Mais and Sweet Vampire. The duo performed tours, soap opera themes and big shows, like the first Rock in Rio, in 1985, and the opening of the band's first show Rolling Stones in Brazil, ten years later.
Rita Lee on television
O acid humor Rita made her a favorite on television. The singer participated in Globo soap operas, such as Top Model, Vamp, Celebrity and Ti Ti Ti, almost always playing herself. She also ran programs such as TVLeeZão, on MTV and, alongside Roberto, the talk show Madam Lee, on the paid channel GNT.
Between 2002 and 2004, she was part of the team of presenters of Saia Justa, GNT's debate program, alongside Mônica Waldvogel, Marisa Orth and Fernanda Young.
Farewell to the stage
The singer retired from the stage in 2012, due to his physical fragility: “I retire from shows, but from The music never,” he explained on Twitter.
His last performance, at Sergipe Summer Festival, ended in controversy, after Rita was outraged by police action that she considered aggressive towards the public. Accused of contempt for authority, was taken to a police station after the show to give a statement.
Rita spent the last few years imprisoned in a farm in Greater São Paulo with her husband, Roberto. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2020, she talked about her isolated life in a text for Veja magazine.
“I will not die from this voodoo virus and I ask the Universe may my death be quick and painless, preferably sleeping and dreaming that I am with my family on a beach in the Caribbean”, he wrote.
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