Died On This Date (January 19, 2017) Loalwa Braz / Brazilian Singer; Sang Lead On Hit Single, “Lambada”
themusicsover Loalwa Braz
June 3, 1953 – January 19, 2017
Loalwa Braz was a Brazilian singer and songwriter who is perhaps best remembered for singing lead on Kaoma‘s international hit of 1989, “Lambada.” Although Kaoma was a French group, Braz sang the song’s Portuguese lyrics on the record, which went on to sell over 5 million copies worldwide and help break Latin music into many non-Latin markets around the world. Born into a musical family, Braz took up the piano at the age of four. Singing followed, and before she knew it, she was performing in the hottest clubs of Rio de Janeiro. After the success of “Lambada,” Braz performed all over the world and was invited to collaborate with many top Brazilian and European recording artists. She continued to record and perform up until the time of her death. In the morning hours of January 19, 2017, Loalwa Braz, age 63, was discovered deceased by Rio police in a burnt up car about 45 miles outside of the city. Actual cause of death and other circumstances surrounding her death were not immediately released.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.
Martin Fay is best remembered as the founding fiddler for the Chieftains. Formed in 1962, the Cheiftains went on to become arguably the biggest Irish folk band in history. If nothing more, they helped popularize their native music the world over for the better part of 50 years. To date, the band has earned six Grammys and has been named “Ireland’s Musical Ambassadors.” Fay learned to play the violin as a child, and by his late teens, he was playing in the Abbey Theatre orchestra in Dublin. By the early ’60s, Fay was earning his living by playing music, and in 1963, he and the Chieftains released their self-titled debut on Claddagh Records. From then on, the band seemed to tour the world non-stop, even playing in front of over 1 million people during Pope John Paul II‘s visit to Dublin in 1979. In 2001, Fay retired from the road but continued to record and perform with the Chieftains, but only in Ireland. In all, he played on over 30 albums before retiring completely in 2002. Martin Fay was 76 when he passed away on November 14, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released, although, he had reportedly been ill for quite some time prior.
Raylene Rankin was the co-lead singer for influential Canadian Irish folk group, the Rankin Family. Formed in 1989, the group, which also included siblings, Jimmy, Cookie, Heather, John Morris, and David, won numerous awards, including six Juno Awards – Canada’s answer to the Grammys. Shortly after the Rankin Family formed, they began self-releasing their music on cassette. By the early ’90s, they were signed to EMI Records and touring all over Canada and beyond. The 1992 EMI re-release of their Fair Thee Well Love sold more than 500,000 in its initial years. The group released several more albums through the years including the quadruple platinum North Country, and their most recent, 2009’s These Are The Moments. Meanwhile, Raylene released a handful of solo albums as well. During the she early 2000s, Raylene was diagnosed with cancer, and on September 30, 2012 she died of breast cancer. She was 52 when he passed away.
Chavela Vargas was a Costa Rico-born singer who grew up to be one of the most respected singer of Mexican Rancheras the world has ever known. When she was just 14, Vargas moved to Mexico to pursue her dream of singing, but it wasn’t until 1961 that she recorded her first album, Noche de Bohemia. She spent the next 50 years making up for lost time with the release of more than 80 albums. She was immensely popular during the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, keeping company with the likes of Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and Augustin Lara. Vargas more or less retired during the late ’70s, but came back to the stage strong in 1991. In 2003 – at the age of 83 – Vargas made her Carnegie Hall debut. Chavela Vargas was 93 when she passed away on August 5, 2012.