Rio de Janeiro included Rocker Women’s Day in the official state calendar. The date will be celebrated on December 31st, the birthday of Rita Lee, who died on May 9th, aged 75, in São Paulo.
The law was approved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj) last month and sanctioned by acting governor Thiago Pampolha (União) this Friday (1st). The tribute to the queen of rock was created by congresswoman Veronica Lima (PT).
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In justification, the parliamentarian states that Rita Lee’s songs moved several generations, “she became a symbol of irreverence with songs like ‘Ovelha Negra’ and ‘Agora Só Falta Você’, which inspired millions of Brazilians.”
Rita Lee began her career in the 1960s as one of the first women to achieve national success within rock. During her approximately 60-year career, the singer accumulated more than 55 million records sold, becoming the fourth most successful artist in this sense in Brazil, behind Tonico & Tinoco, Roberto Carlos and Nelson Gonçalves.
Both in the band Os Mutantes and in the group Tutti Frutti, and later in her solo career, Rita Lee composed hits that continue to resonate with new generations. The singer was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2021 and passed away in May this year due to complications from the disease. She was survived by her husband, composer and musician Roberto de Carvalho, and her three sons Beto, João and Antônio Lee.
Source: BdF Rio de Janeiro
Editing: Clívia Mesquita
