Aurora Miranda was a talented Brazilian singer and actress who had a successful career in both Brazil and the United States, although her accomplishments were somewhat overshadowed by those of her more famous sister, Carmen Miranda. Born six years younger than Carmen, Aurora was equally talented and vivacious, but not as brilliant as her sister.
Aurora made her recording debut at the age of 18 on May 25, 1933, singing the marcha "Cai, Cai, Balão!" and the samba "Toque de Amor" in a duo with Francisco Alves, Brazil's greatest male singing star. She went on to record numerous sides, many of which were enormous hits, including "Cidade Maravilhosa" and "Se a Lua Contasse".
In 1936, Aurora appeared in the film Alô Alô Carnaval, in which she was seen with Carmen dressed in gold-lamé top hat and tails, singing "Cantores do Rádio". This film is apparently lost except for some short sequences.
In 1940, Aurora married Gabriel Richaid, and before long she was appearing in American nightclubs and revues. During World War II, when Walt Disney was producing his "Good Neighbor" south-of-the-border films, he wanted to cast Carmen in a picture to be called "Blame It on the Samba". However, Carmen was unavailable, and Aurora was cast in The Three Caballeros (1944) instead, in which she shined in the Bahia sequence, dancing with Donald Duck and Zé Carioca to the tune of Ary Barroso's "Os Quindins de Iaiá.".
Unlike her sister, Aurora preferred married life to her career, and in 1951 she returned to Rio de Janeiro and settled down as a wife and mother. She often spoke of her sister Carmen and appeared in many documentaries.
Aurora Miranda passed away at the age of 90 on Thursday, December 22, 2005.
