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Carmens Birth
On Feb 9, 1909 Carmen was born in Marco de Canavezes, Portugal. The birth name she has is Maria do Carmo Miranda da Cunha Her mother was Maria Emília Miranda and her father was José Maria Pinto da Cunha. She had 5 siblings and moved to Rio de Janeiro months after she was born in December. While her father worked in the produce business she finished school in Brazil. -
Carmen's Start
In 1923 at the age of 14 Carmen took on her first job after school as a department store clerk. Carmen was often found singing on the job for anyone in the store to hear. Not long after a male guitarist gave her the opportunity to sing on a local radio show. That show was what first started her career by getting a recording contract with RCA in 1928. At this time she was a Brazil star along with many others. -
Night Club?
In 1926 Carmen was offered a job in a night club. She was 17 but her father disagreed. She finally got the job when he agreed to be her manager and not get billed under her real name. Which is how she became Carmen Miranda. -
First Hit
Carmens first hit song was in 1930. This song was made because the Brazilians weren't listening to her to her music and this one was the hit she needed. The song was called Prá Você Gostar de Mim," this song was a traditional brazilian marcha. It was produced by a composer named Joubert de Carvalho. This recorded song was her break to stardom in Brazil in the 1930s. -
The New Job
In 1933 Carmen entered the film business like many other singers. Her first debut was in documentary called A Voz De Carnaval in 1993. Two years later in 1995 she featured in her first feature film called Alo, Alo, Brasil. However that was a popular movie she finally struck herself as a movie star the same year in a movie called Estudantes. -
A Joke?
After Miranda’s broadway show closed she went back to Brazil. When she arrived she realized she was viewed as a traitor. This was because it seemed she made a joke out of their culture. In response to this she wrote a song called "Disseram Que Eu Voltei Americanizada". Praying her career kicked off again she went back to hollywood for a fox production. -
New York!
Later in 1939 Carmen arrived in New York ready to make herself popular in the USA. Her first attempted was in few broadway shows which as guessed were very popular. The second was in 1940 on a twentieth century FOX production called Down Argentina Way with Betty Grable and Don Ameche. The only complaint was that she wasn’t seen enough. After carmen had many other huge productions which American loved. -
The Top
During world war 2 camren became one of the most highest paid women in the US. This occurred because she sang often at New Yorks Copacabana nightclub. And was well known for her clothes style with lots of jewelry and crazy headpieces. -
The New Cartoons
After Week End in Havana in 1941 Carmen became an interest to cartoonist for money. These cartoons were shown in the 1940s and were about the upcoming movies Carmen would show in. As you all would think the little character was on the screen with its fruit hat on and ready to perform. The cartoons were popping up when Carmen was only 32. -
Downhill She Went
Sadly in 1943 Carmen became very ill. She took on stomach ailment surgery to get better. After this she had minor depression and and lots of medications that followed her around. After ths in 1947 she signed a contract with universal and she was on the edge of her career of singing and acting. -
The Gangs All Here
The Gangs all her is another movie she played in. The direct was Busby Berkeley. It was a musical and she played a charactor named Dorita and starred in a number called the lady in the tutti fruity hat. This production is when she got the name of a songstress who was hilarous. -
Marrying
Keeping with her Catholic religion carmen didn't marry until 1947. She was 38. Her spouse was Dave Sebastian. He was a minor hollywood producer. Many people think he was abusive. Along with this many think that is why she never acted in a romantic movie until Copacabana as a spicy latina performer and blond french singer. -
The Last Movie
In 1953 was Carmens last movie. She was only 44. This movie was called Scared Stiff. She worked alongsdie Dean Martin and Jimmy Lewis. Her role ended when Lewis mimicked her style in one scene. Though after this she was in few other tv show roles. -
The Accident
On August 4 1955 Carmen had a heart attack on stage at the Jimmy Durante show. This was while she was recording a dance number. She collapsed in the final sequence and she said “I’m all out of breath”. Later that night she went to a family and friends party where she sang and danced regardless of her health. -
Carmen's Death
On August 4 1955 Carmen suffered a heart attack which I recited before. Then the next day on the 5th at 2:30 am she suffered a fatal heart attack. She was only 46 and was flown to Brazil. When she arrived her death was declared a national mourning to the fans and native people. Before she was shipped there were services in California.
