Zaíra de Oliveira was born in Salvador, Bahia in 1911. She started performing in vaudeville theaters and nightclubs, where composer Lamartine Babo noticed her. He helped develop her vocal style, which mixed traditional Brazilian music with newer material.
Her 1932 recording of 'Cabeleira À La Garçonne' became a national hit. The song, inspired by the short haircut popularized by Coco Chanel, was taken up by Brazilian women as a statement of independence. It remains her most recognized work, alongside songs like 'Canção Das Infelizes' and 'Dondoca'.
She worked with composers like Dorival Caymmi and Ary Barroso over a career that lasted decades. Her daughter, Rosa Maria Oliveira, also became a singer.
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