Nelly Omar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nelly Omar
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Born |
Nilda Elvira Vattuone Pesoa
10 September 1911 Bonifacio, Guaminí, Argentina
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Died | 20 December 2013 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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(aged 102)
Occupation | Actress, singer |
Years active | 1924–2011 |
Spouse(s) | Antonio Molina (1935–1943) |
Nelly Omar, whose real name was Nilda Elvira Vattuone, was a famous Argentine actress and singer. She was born on September 10, 1911, and passed away on December 20, 2013. Nelly was a big star during the "Golden Age" of Argentine movies, which was from the 1930s to the 1950s.
She was especially known for her amazing tango singing. Nelly performed on many radio shows and also sang canción criolla, a type of folk music. Her movie career started in 1940. Later, she faced difficulties and couldn't work for a while because she had sung a song supporting a political leader, Juan Perón. She made a big comeback in 1972 and continued performing until she passed away.
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About Nelly Omar's Life
Nilda Elvira Vattuone Pesoa was born in a small town called Bonifacio in Argentina on September 10, 1911. Her parents were Marcos Vattuone and Salustiana Pesoa. When Nelly was very young, her father died. Her family then moved to Buenos Aires to find better work.
Nelly started working in a textile factory when she was just 12 years old. At 13, she had a dream of becoming a pilot and even went to flight school! It was there that she met Eva Duarte, who also wanted to be an aviator.
Starting Her Singing Career
In 1924, Nelly Omar began singing tango professionally. A famous singer named Ignacio Corsini heard her and gave her a great chance. He hired her to sing on his radio shows. She also sang with a group called Cenizas del fogón.
Between 1932 and 1933, Nelly and her sister sang duets on Radio Stentor. Later, when she worked for Radio Belgrano, she met many famous tango writers like Enrique Cadícamo and Homero Manzi. She also sang alongside popular singers such as Libertad Lamarque and Agustín Magaldi. Homero Manzi even wrote several tangos especially for Nelly, including Solamente ella and Sur.
Nelly had a very clear voice and became very famous in the 1940s and 1950s. Some of her most well-known tangos are Amar y callar and Manoblanca. She also helped bring back canción criolla, a traditional Argentine music style.
Recordings and Time Away
In 1946, Nelly Omar recorded her first music album. She worked with Francisco Canaro’s orchestra for this album. In 1951, she signed with another record company, RCA Victor.
In 1955, she traveled to Montevideo, Uruguay, to perform on stage. After that, she lived in Venezuela for a year before returning to Argentina. When she came back, she stopped singing for a while.
Challenges and Comeback
In 1945, Nelly sang a special song called Soy La Descamisada. This song was made for the political campaign of Juan Perón. Nelly strongly supported Perón. When he was removed from power in 1955, Nelly was "blacklisted." This meant she was not allowed to work in the entertainment industry for 17 years.
Before 1955, she made only three movies. One of them was Canto de amor (1940), which also starred singer Carlos Viván. It is thought that all copies of this movie were destroyed. However, there are still photos from the filming.
In 1942, she filmed Melodías de América. Even though her name isn't always listed in the cast, a photo shows her with the cast. In 1951, she lent her singing voice to actress Mecha Ortiz in the movie Mi vida por la tuya. She didn't make another movie for 57 years! But in 2008, she appeared in a documentary about tango called Café de los maestros.
In 1972, Nelly made a big comeback to singing. A guitarist named José Canet convinced her to start performing again. They did many concerts, and Nelly began releasing new records. She also wrote two books.
Nelly Omar passed away on December 20, 2013, at the age of 102. She died from a heart attack in Buenos Aires.
Awards and Recognition
In 1986, Nelly Omar was named an "Honorary Citizen" of Buenos Aires. She also received a special award for being a "Great Performer" from the Society of Authors and Composers (SADAIC).
Documentary About Nelly
In 2012, Nelly's great-niece, Teresa Saporiti, started making a documentary about her. It was called Nelly Omar Cantora Nacional (Nelly Omar National Singer). In the movie, Nelly seemed relaxed and had a good memory. She even talked about plans for future projects. The film was finished in 2014, but it took until 2015 to be released because of music licensing issues.
Nelly Omar's Movies
- Canto de amor (1940)
- Melodies of America (1942)
- Mi vida por la tuya (1951) - she sang for another actress
- Café de los maestros (2008) - a documentary
See also
In Spanish: Nelly Omar para niños
- List of centenarians (actors, filmmakers and entertainers)