Dalva de Oliveira

Who was Dalva de Oliveira?

Dalva de Oliveira or Vicentina de Paula Oliveira was a Brazilian singer and one of "divas" of the '"Radio Era." She was the mother of the singer Pery Ribeiro.

Dalva was born in Rio Claro, in the state of São Paulo. Her father was a carpenter and semi-professional musician, playing clarinet and saxophone with a group called Os Oito Batutas. He died when Dalva was just eight years old, and, as a result, Dalva and her three sisters were placed into an orphanage, where Dalva remained for three years. At the orphanage, Dalva learned to play piano and organ, as well as choral singing. Dalva left the orphanage due to an illness, and went to live with her mother in the city of São Paulo.

In 1933, while still a teenager, Dalva began working as a singer, touring with a group led by Antônio Zovetti. Thereafter, Dalva spent a year as a regularly featured singer on Rádio Mineira in the state of Minas Gerais. Hoping to achieve success on a larger stage, Dalva and her mother moved to Rio de Janeiro. At first, Dalva had to work in a factory, while her mother worked as a cleaning woman. In 1936, however, she was hired by Rádio Mayrink Veiga, the most powerful broadcaster in Rio at that time.