Biography
Rosinha de Valença, born Maria Rosa Canelas in 1941 in Valença, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, emerged as one of the most skilled and innovative guitarists in Brazilian music. Entranced by the music she heard on the radio as a child, she taught herself to play the acoustic guitar, inspired by her brother and the vibrant sounds of Rio. By age 12, she was already performing in local bars and restaurants, defying the gender norms of a conservative society that viewed guitar playing as a male pursuit.
In 1963, Rosinha moved to Rio de Janeiro to pursue music professionally, where she was given her stage name by journalist Sérgio Porto, reflecting her pride in her hometown. The early 1960s were a creative peak for Brazilian music, and Rosinha quickly became a fixture in the bossa nova and jazz scenes. Her big break came in 1964, touring internationally with Sérgio Mendes and Brasil ’65, which introduced her to global audiences. Throughout her career, she collaborated with renowned artists such as Stan Getz, Henry Mancini, and Sarah Vaughan, and released several acclaimed albums, including 'A Guitar in the Foreground' (1971). Despite her technical mastery and expressive style—marked by fiery, conversational guitar lines and occasional understated vocals—she was often overlooked in her home country due to prevailing sexism.
Rosinha's career was tragically cut short in the early 1990s when a heart attack left her in a coma, from which she never recovered. She passed away in 2004. In the years since her death, her contributions to bossa nova and MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) have been increasingly recognized, with tribute concerts and reappraisals of her groundbreaking work cementing her legacy as a pioneering female guitarist in Brazilian music.
Fun Facts
- Rosinha de Valença taught herself guitar by playing along with the radio, earning her first club gig at age 12.
- Her stage name was given by journalist Sérgio Porto, who said she played for her entire hometown.
- She was one of the few women to achieve prominence in the male-dominated Brazilian guitar scene of the 1960s.
- After a heart attack in the early 1990s, she spent over a decade in a coma before her death in 2004.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Her brother (unnamed) - Inspired her initial interest in guitar; she learned by watching him play and imitating songs from the radio. (Early performances in Valença) [1950s]
Key Collaborators
- Sérgio Mendes - Toured and recorded with Mendes as part of Brasil ’65, helping introduce bossa nova to international audiences. (Tour with Brasil ’65, 'In Person at El Matador!' (1966)) [1964-1966]
- Stan Getz - Performed and recorded with the American jazz saxophonist, blending Brazilian and jazz styles. (Live performances, session work) [1960s]
- Henry Mancini - Collaborated in performances, showcasing her versatility across genres. (Live performances) [1970s]
- Sarah Vaughan - Collaborated in live performances, further bridging Brazilian and American jazz. (Live performances) [1970s]
- Sivuca - Recorded a live album together, highlighting mutual virtuosity. ('Gravado Ao Vivo' (1977)) [1977]
- Waltel Branco - Split LP collaboration, each guitarist showcasing their style. ('Violao Em Dois Estilos' (1980)) [1980]
- Martinho da Vila - Featured as a guest vocalist on her album, exchanging musical ideas. ('A Guitar in the Foreground' (1971), track 'Marinheiro Só') [1971]
Artists Influenced
- Contemporary Brazilian guitarists (unnamed) - Her pioneering role as a female guitarist and her innovative bossa nova technique inspired later generations, especially women in Brazilian music. (Tribute concerts and re-recordings of her compositions) [2000s–present]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Um Violão em Primeiro Plano | 1971-12-09 | Album |
| Rosinha de Valença & Flavio Faria (feat. Toots Thielemans) | 1990-01-02 | Album |
| Rosinha De Valença Apresenta O Ipanema Beat | 1970-02-22 | Album |
| Sivuca e Rosinha De Valença | 1977-11-08 | Album |
| Cheiro De Mato | 1976-06-01 | Album |
| Rosinha De Valença & Flavio Faria | 2016-11-21 | Album |
| Rosinha De Valença E Banda Ao Vivo | 1975-01-05 | Album |
| Flavio Faria - Omonimo | 2005-09-15 | Album |
| Apresentando | 2016-01-29 | Album |
| Gold | 2002-01-01 | Album |
| Um Violão em Primeiro Plano | 1971 | Album |
| Donato, Bud Shank e Rosinha de Valença | 1965-03-01 | Album |
| Brasil '65 | 1965-01-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Summertime (Um Violão em Primeiro Plano)
- Asa Branca (Um Violão em Primeiro Plano)
- O Samba da Minha Terra (Um Violão em Primeiro Plano)
- Euridice (Rosinha de Valença & Flavio Faria (feat. Toots Thielemans))
- Comme d'habitude (Saveur Brésil (feat. Rosinha de Valença) [Brazilian Flavour])
- Concierto de Aranjuez (Um Violão em Primeiro Plano)
- De Conversa em Conversa (Um Violão em Primeiro Plano)
- One O'Clock Last Morning, 20th April 1970 (Um Violão em Primeiro Plano)
- London, London (Um Violão em Primeiro Plano)
- Mudei de Idéia (Um Violão em Primeiro Plano)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Rosinha De Valenca has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 11, 2025 | 08:25 | Asa Brancafrom Um Violao em Primeiro Plano | The Morning Setw/ Fox Duhon or Mark LaMaire |