Carmen was born Maria do Carmo Miranda da Cunha on February 9, 1909 in Marco de Canavezes, Portugal. So, technically, the Portuguese can claim her as their own. Her family moved to Rio de Janeiro when she was about two years old. Her career took off in the carnaval of 1930 with the spectacular success of the marchinha "Taí" (still when of my favorites!) and the first meeting with Almirante, a man of many talents (radio pioneer, singer, composer, folklorist, etc) who was to become one of her dearest friends. Carmen and Almirante performed together on stage, in films and on the radio with incredible success during the 30's. Lee Shubert, who saw her singing "O que é que a baiana tem?" in the Casino da Urca in Rio de Janeiro, brought Carmen to the US in 1939. Her first American appearance was, of all places, in Boston. Lee knew a good thing when he saw one...Carmen soon became one of the most popular artists in the US, acting in films, appearing on television and dazzling them on the stages of Las Vegas' casinos and night-clubs.

Carmen only returned to Brazil for two brief visits; the first one in 1940 - when she was accused by some of being "Americanized". That broke her heart, but resulted in a great song written for her, called "Disseram que eu voltei americanizada" (They said I came back Americanized), full of barbs directed at her detractors. The second visit occurred in 1954, a few months before her death. Carmen died of a heart attack on August 5, 1955, at home in Beverly Hills, California.

There is a very sensitive documentary about Carmen called Carmen Miranda, Bananas is my Business, written and directed by Helena Solberg and produced by Helena and her husband, David Meyer. It's interesting to see the different views that Americans and Brazilians have of her. Also, I saw for the first time the crowds that followed her coffin in the streets of Rio. She was really loved by the people of Brazil.

  

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