Valucha deCastro (October 9, 1930 – February 12, 2007) was a Brazilian-born singer, songwriter and artist. Born in Brazil's

Minas Gerais Minas Gerais () is a state in Southeastern Brazil. It ranks as the second most populous, the third by gross domestic product (GDP), and the fourth largest by area in the country. The state's capital and largest city, Belo Horizonte (literally ...

state, she grew up in Rio de Janeiro.Chicago Tribune
– Obituary, Valucha deCastro. she was one of the first students of Chicago,

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...

Old Town School of Folk Music The Old Town School of Folk Music is a Chicago teaching and performing institution that launched the careers of many notable folk music artists. Founded by Folk musicians Frank Hamilton and Win Stracke, and Dawn Greening, the School opened in th ...

and later a teacher of Brazilian folk music there. She recorded an album with the Old Town School's Frank Hamilton titled "The World of Frank & Valucha" in 1962.Phillips Records – Frank and Valucha
/ref> During the 1970s she toured the United States performing Brazilian folk music and in the 1980s, she collaborated with musician/arranger Sergio Bezard who arranged and produced her album "Batuki" and "Trio Rio" with Laura de Lisse on guitar, by the end of the decade they had become the top Brazilian group in Chicago's music world. Later in her life she became a painter, living in Russia and China. She died at her home in Washington, D.C. of liver disease in 2007.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:DeCastro, Valucah American folk musicians American folk singers Singers from Chicago Old Town School of Folk musicians Deaths from liver disease 1930 births 2007 deaths 20th-century American singers Brazilian emigrants to the United States