Ângela Rô Rô -

Ângela Rô Rô (December 5, 1949 – September 8, 2025) was a Brazilian vocalist and songwriter who released six albums between 1979 and 1985 on Polydor/Polygram.

Background

Angela Ro Ro was born Angela Maria Diniz Gonsalves on December 5, 1949, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She grew up in Ipanema, where her mother, Maria da Conceição, sang and played records of samba, tango, and American popular music. Ro Ro studied classical piano from five through adolescence and also played accordion. She acquired the childhood nickname Ro Ro for a rough voice.

Ro Ro teamed with songwriter Sérgio Bandeira for two 1970 shows at Teatro Vereda in São Paulo. She played piano and sang “Hey Joe” with the accompanying band. Ro Ro left Brazil amid military repression and settled in London, where she worked as a cleaner and waitress. She sang and played piano in pubs.

Gilberto Gil invited Ro Ro to a home session with Caetano Veloso. She played harmonica on “Nostalgia (That’s What Rock’n’Roll Is All About)” at the 1971 London sessions for the 1972 Philips album Transa. Ro Ro wrote “The Split Up Song Number One” in 1973 as a four-section English song.

She returned to Rio in 1974 and used nightclub pianos to finish “Mares da Espanha” and “Não Há Cabeça” because her father restricted late practice at the family apartment. Emílio Santiago invited her to duet on “Stella by Starlight” at 706 in Leblon; Áurea Martins lent her a songbook for the lyrics.

Nelson Motta booked Ro Ro for the 1976 Som, Sol & Surf festival at Praia de Itaúna in Saquarema. She performed “Minha Mãezinha” and a medley of songs by Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Dylan.

Paulinho Lima arranged a May 11, 1979, Teatro Ipanema appearance after he and Nacional FM director Luis Felipe Aguiar heard Ro Ro perform in Saquarema. She filled the theatre at a midnight appearance after Beto Guedes; Lima secured a contract with PolyGram. Ro Ro adapted half the London composition as “Amor, Meu Grande Amor” with lyrics by Ana Terra, a partner of Lima at Luzes da Cidade.

Marina Lima recorded “Não Há Cabeça” for the 1979 WEA debut Simples como Fogo. Paulinho Lima also sent a demo to Maria Bethânia, who recorded “Gota de Sangue” for the 1979 Philips album Mel, with Ro Ro as pianist. Ro Ro made the Polydor debut Angela Ro Ro with arranger-pianist Antonio Adolfo and producers Paulinho Lima and Ricardo Cantaluppi.

Discography:

Angela Ro Ro (1979)
Só nos Resta Viver (1980)
Escândalo! (1981)
Simples carinho (1982)
A vida e mesmo assim (1984)
Eu Desatino (1985)

References and notes

Angela Ro Ro — biographical entry. Supplies the December 5, 1949 birth date, Rio de Janeiro birthplace, and civil name Angela Maria Diniz Gonsalves. The background retains the surname spelling with an “s.” (Museu Brasileiro de Rádio e Televisão)
Angela Ro Ro interview — Estúdio Móvel, October 10, 2016. Ro Ro recalls piano studies from five through fifteen and identifies maternal encouragement toward a musical career. (Liliane Reis, TV Brasil/EBC)
Angela Ro Ro interview — August 2, 2024. Direct answers establish the household record collection, accordion, “Hey Joe” performances, and restrictions on piano practice at home. Ro Ro explains how nightclub pianos helped her complete songs, recalls the “Stella by Starlight” duet, and dates the English precursor of “Amor, Meu Grande Amor” to 1973. She also identifies Ana Terra through Luzes da Cidade. (Daniel Victor, Observatório G)
Angela Ro Ro interview — March 5, 2021. Ro Ro reconstructs the two 1970 Teatro Vereda shows, the London musical contacts, and the 1974 return. Direct answers identify the Saquarema repertoire, the four-section English composition, and the private performance for Paulinho Lima and Luis Felipe Aguiar that led to the May 11 Teatro Ipanema booking. (Lucas Borges Teixeira, Monkeybuzz)
Angela Ro Ro interview and profile — July 3, 2021. Documents London employment as a cleaner and waitress alongside informal bar performances. Ro Ro also discusses the childhood instruments and the nickname associated with her rough voice. (Folha de S.Paulo)
Angela Ro Ro interview — October 14, 2020. Independently confirms the London harmonica appearance, Nelson Motta’s invitation to the 1976 festival, the Teatro Ipanema breakthrough, and the PolyGram contract arranged by Paulinho Lima. Ro Ro explains how Lima delivered a demo to Maria Bethânia and confirms the piano performance on “Gota de Sangue.” (André Aram, Scream & Yell)
Transa — official label documentation. Distinguishes the 1971 sessions at Chappell Recording Studios in London from the January 1972 release. Confirms harmonica by Angela Ro Ro on “Nostalgia (That’s What Rock’n’Roll Is All About).” (Universal Music)
Som, Sol & Surf – Saquarema — official documentary synopsis, 2018. Confirms the 1976 festival at Praia de Itaúna and includes Ro Ro among the performers. The synopsis calls this her first appearance; the firsthand accounts document the earlier Teatro Vereda shows, so the background does not repeat that claim. (Hélio Pitanga/BossaPro, Canal Curta!)
Simples como Fogo — release and songwriting credits, 1979. Confirms the WEA debut by Marina Lima and credits Ro Ro with “Não Há Cabeça.” The release record corrects retrospective summaries that place this recording in 1977 or 1978. (Maria Luiza Kfouri, Discografia Brasileira)
Mel — release and performance credits, 1979. Confirms the Philips album by Maria Bethânia, Ro Ro’s authorship of “Gota de Sangue,” and the accompanying piano credit. (Maria Luiza Kfouri, Discografia Brasileira)
Angela Ro Ro — debut album credits, 1979. Identifies production by Paulinho Lima and Ricardo Cantaluppi and arrangement credits for Antonio Adolfo and Ro Ro. Track credits document Adolfo’s piano and electric keyboards. (Maria Luiza Kfouri, Discografia Brasileira)