Aurora Miranda

**Aurora Miranda da Cunha** was a pioneering Brazilian **singer**, *dancer* and actress whose career spanned more than five decades, beginning in the early 1930s and concluding near the end of the 20th century. Born on 20 April 1915 in Rio de Janeiro, she entered the public eye at the age of eighteen after being invited to perform on the Mayrink Veiga radio station by composer Josué de Barros, the same man who had launched the career of her famous sister, Carmen Miranda. Within a year she recorded her first single, “Cai, Cai, Balão,” alongside the celebrated crooner Francisco Alves, who was known for championing emerging talent. Over the next several years Aurora cemented her reputation as a versatile entertainer, appearing on rival radio stations, releasing numerous recordings, and eventually transitioning to the silver screen. Her most internationally recognizable performance came in Walt Disney’s groundbreaking 1944 feature *The Three Caballeros*, where she danced beside Donald Duck and José Carioca while singing “Os Quindins de Yayá,” making her one of the earliest live-action stars to interact with animated characters.

Despite the dazzling spotlight shared with her sister, Aurora cultivated a distinct legacy in Brazil. In 1934 she made the first recording of “Cidade Maravilhosa,” an unofficial anthem of Rio de Janeiro that would become emblematic of the city’s spirit. She later appeared in documentary films such as *Once Upon a Mouse* and *Carmen Miranda: Bananas is My Business*, often reflecting on her sister’s influence while asserting her own artistic identity. Aurora married Gabriel Richaid in 1940, a union celebrated with a gold‑embroidered wedding dress sent from the United States by Carmen. After returning to Rio in 1951, she prioritized family life, raising two children while remaining a beloved cultural figure until her death on 22 December 2005 at the age of ninety. *The Guardian* later described her as having “personified the spirit of Rio,” a testament to her lasting impact on Brazilian music and cinema.