Odete Amaral had success in the '40s and '50s with songs like "Murmurando," "Vem, Amor" (Chocolate/Jorge de Castro), "Nasci Para Sofrer" (Chocolate/Jorge de Castro), "Quando Eu Falo Com Você" (Mário Rossi/Gadé), "Girassol" (Mário Rossi), "Divina Visão," and others. A highly regarded singer by her radio colleagues, she actively performed in choirs on recordings by Carmen Miranda, Francisco Alves, Mário Reis, Almirante, and other top artists. Having appeared on most radio stations in her time, she was a member of the cast of the prestigious Rádio Nacional. Amaral also worked in the cinema (in the Cinédia film Samba da Vida). After a childhood spent in poverty, Amaral became a worker in a textile factory and in 1935, she was taken by her sister Rádio Guanabara, where she did an audition singing "Minha Embaixada Chegou" (Assis Valente). Having passed the autidion, she was hired to perform in the Suburbano show, of which also included Carmen Miranda, Noel Rosa, Sílvio Caldas, Marília Batista, Almirante, and others. Introduced by Almirante, she also started to sing on Rádio Clube. She was also a member of the casts on several other radio stations, including Sociedade, Philips, and Cruzeiro do Sul. Amaral debuted in the theater singing "Ganhou Mas Não Leva" (Milton Amaral) in a João Caetano revue. After the recording of her first album, Sim Ou Não, she was taken by Ary Barroso to RCA Victor, where she recorded his batucada "Foi de Madrugada" and his marcha "Colibri." In 1935, Amaral participated in the opening of the Cassino Atlântico and later on Rádio Ipanema. In 1936, she signed with Rádio Mayrink Veiga, and in the next year she became a member of the cast of Rádio Nacional. In 1939, Amaral worked on the film Samba da Vida and moved to São Paulo, where she was hired by Rádio Cultura. She performed for a year and a half, touring Brazil with Ciro Monteiro (her husband at the time) during program breaks. In 1941, she returned to the Mayrink Veiga, staying there until 1947. In 1942, she recorded the marcha "Maior Que o Mundo" (Edgar de Almeida) and "Não Quero Dizer Adeus," a samba-choro by Laurindo de Almeida. In 1945, she recorded her biggest hit, the choro "Murmurando" (Fon-Fon/Mário Rossi). In 1957, Amaral had her first LP released through Todamérica. In 1975, Amaral participated in the M.P.B. 100 Ao Vivo series broadcast live to the entire country by Rádio MEC. The 30-program series yielded eight LPs produced by Ricardo Cravo Albin. In 1977, she starred in the show Café Nice, together with Paulo Marques, Alda Garrido, and Altamiro Carrilho. ~ Alvaro Neder