Irene Coelho, a prominent singer and radio host, stands as one of the foremost figures in popular Portuguese music in Brazil. Throughout her life, she dedicated herself to promoting Portuguese culture, significantly transforming the fado genre within the samba tradition.
Born on July 4, 1921, in Rio Claro, Brazil, Irene was given the name Irene Aparecida Raymondo. Her father hailed from Calabria, Italy, while her mother was a Rio Clarense of Portuguese descent from Leiria, in the Beira Alta province, giving Irene a rich cultural heritage.
At the age of 12, in 1933, she and her family moved to the railway village of Alto da Serra, now known as Paranapiacaba. It was here, at the local Club Lira Serrana, that Irene was first introduced to fado, a musical style that captivated her deeply.
By the age of 15, Irene sought permission from her mother and stepfather to study singing and Portuguese guitar with Professor Alfredo Bastos, a respected guitarist based in Santos, São Paulo. Bastos hosted a weekly program titled "Saudades de Portugal" on Atlantic Radio, where Irene made her debut under the name Irene Raymondo. Despite initial skepticism about her surname, she soon adopted a new stage name.
In 1939, she began vocal training with Professor Joaquim Gallas in São Paulo, where she met Manoel dos Santos Coelho, a charming Portuguese marketer and fellow student. The two fell in love and married in July 1940.
Nine months after their wedding, Coelho presented his wife with a radio program called "Portuguese Melodies," which premiered on April 13, 1941, on Radio Cosmos. Irene affectionately referred to the program as her "first child." During a time when women faced societal repression, Irene found a supportive partner in Manuel, who encouraged her artistic pursuits.
In 1942, the couple moved to Rio de Janeiro, the cultural heart of Brazil, with Irene aiming to record her music. After three years, she signed with the Continental label, releasing her debut 78 RPM records featuring "Eternal Love" (Antonio Ferreira / Américo Morais) and "Your Guitar" (Belmiro A. Veiga), accompanied by the guitar work of Antonio Ferreira and Fernando de Freitas.
While in Rio, Irene received support from fellow singer Manuel Monteiro, who, along with Joaquim Pimentel, dubbed her the "Little Princess of the Portuguese Song" in 1943. The couple continued their "Portuguese Melodies" program, which was broadcast across various radio stations. Additionally, they ventured into the restaurant business, opening a typical Portuguese restaurant named "Marialva" in Vila Mariana in 1953, featuring a dedicated fado space called the "Retreat Marialvas."
In celebration of the IV Centenary of São Paulo, they opened another restaurant, the "Solar da Alegria," in 1954, where Irene frequently performed.
In April 1966, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of "Portuguese Melodies," Irene and Manuel traveled to Portugal, fulfilling her long-held desire to reconnect with her roots and family. During their trip, Irene performed as a special guest in various fado houses, reminiscing about her experiences alongside the renowned diva Amália Rodrigues.
Throughout her career, Irene received numerous accolades and recorded multiple albums, including hits like "Nª. Sra. Fatima," "Chinelinhas," "Neighborhoods in Lisbon," "Miraculous Izildinha," "Cachopa do Minho," "Seven skirts," and "Bailinho sprouts."
In the early 2000s, Irene faced significant health challenges. Her son, Irenaeus Coelho, took over the "Portuguese Melodies" program in December 2007, which had remained on air for over six decades.
Irene Coelho continued her role as a promoter of popular music until her passing at the age of 86 on June 7, 2008. Her biography, "Irene Coelho, a Brazilian of Portuguese heart," was published in July 2011 by the Institute Memory, authored by journalist Thais Matarazzo.
Thais Matarazzo is a journalist, writer, and music researcher, as well as a member of the Brazilian Union of Writers and a columnist for Lusiada World Online.
