Dolores Duran

Dolores Duran (Adiléia Silva da Rocha; Rio de Janeiro, June 7, 1930 – October 24, 1959) was a Brazilian singer and composer. Adiléia Silva da Rocha debuted at age 10 on the radio. Two years later, when her father died, she started to work on the television, too. At age 16 she came up with the stage name Dolores Duran and became a crooner, working at nightclubs in Rio de Janeiro. In 1952, Dolores recorded her debut album, which featured songs like "Canção da Volta" (A. Maria/ I. Neto) and "Bom É Querer Bem" (Fernando Lobo). Her first composition, "Se É por Falta de Adeus", was written with Tom Jobim and recorded by Dóris Monteiro. She wrote other MPB classics with Jobim, such as "Por Causa de Você" and "Estrada de Sol". Dolores wrote other hits: "Fim de Caso", "Solidão", "Castigo", as well as "Pela Rua", "Ternura Antiga" and "Idéias Erradas", written with Ribamar. Dolores toured the former Soviet Union in 1958 with other artists, and later spent some time in Paris. Back in Brazil, she wrote her greatest hit, "A Noite do Meu Bem". Duran died of a heart attack at age 29, probably related to a barbiturate overdose. After her premature death, Dolores' fame increased, and artists like Lúcio Alves and Nana Caymmi dedicated full albums to her music. Ella Fitzgerald said once that the best interpretation she had heard of My Funny Valentine was sung by Dolores Duran.