Biography
Emília Savana da Silva Borba, known as Emilinha Borba, (Rio de Janeiro, August 31, 1923 — Rio de Janeiro, October 3, 2005) was a Brazilian samba, march and choro singer. She is considered one of the most popular interpreters of the 20th century in Brazil. In 1939, she was invited by João de Barro to participate in the recording of the Pirulito march sung by Nilton Paz, and her name was not credited on the record, only that of the singer. In March of the same year, she recorded, for Columbia and under the name Emília Borba, her first solo album in 78 RPM, with accompaniment by Benedito Lacerda and his ensemble, with the samba-choro Do Faça O Mesmo by Antônio Nássara and Eratóstenes Frazão and the samba Ninguém Escapa De Eratóstenes Frazão. Also in 1939, she was taken by her artistic godmother, Carmen Miranda, for whom her mother was a chambermaid, to audition at the Cassino da Urca. Because she was a minor, she decided to change her age to a few years older. Furthermore, Carmen Miranda lent her a dress and platform shoes. Approved by businessman Joaquim Rolla, owner of Cassino da Urca, she was hired and began to perform as a "crooner", soon becoming one of the main attractions at that venue. Still in 1939, she acted in the film "Banana da Terra", by Alberto Bynton and Rui Costa. This film had a great cast: Carmen Miranda, Aurora Miranda, Dircinha Batista, Linda Batista, Almirante, Aloísio de Oliveira, Bando da Lua, Carlos Galhardo, Castro Barbosa, Oscarito and Virgínia Lane, the "Vedete do Brasil". In 1940, she recorded with the accompaniment of Radamés Gnattali and his orchestra the sambas "O Cachorro da Lourinha" and "Meu Mulato Vai ao Morro", by the duo Gomes Filho and Juraci Araújo. That year, he appeared in the films "Laranja da China", by Rui Costa and "Vamos Cantar", by Leo Marten. The following year, she signed a contract with Odeon, a record label where her sister, the singer Nena Robledo, married to composer Peterpan, was already signed. Already under the name Emilinha Borba, she released the sambas "Quem Parte Leva Saudades", by Francisco Scarambone, and "Levanta José", by Haroldo Lobo and Valdemar de Abreu. She also recorded a second album at Odeon with the samba "O Fim da Festa", by Nelson Teixeira and Nelson Trigueiro, and the march "Eu Tem Um Cachorrinho", by Georges Moran and Osvaldo Santiago. In 1942, she was hired by Rádio Nacional in Rio de Janeiro, leaving months later. In September 1943, she returned to the "cast" of that station, establishing herself from then on, and during the 27 years she remained there, as the "Major Star" of the station PRE-8, the audience leader.
While on that station, Emilinha reached the peak of her artistic career, becoming the most beloved and popular singer in the country. Borba had an effective participation in all of its musical programs, as well as being the "absolute champion in correspondence" for 19 consecutive years (as long as the research on that station lasted) from 1946 to 1964. In June 2005, she was hospitalized after falling down a staircase and suffering head trauma and intracerebral hemorrhage. She died on the afternoon of October 3, 2005 of a massive heart attack, while having lunch in her apartment in the Copacabana neighborhood, in Rio de Janeiro, at the age of 82.
