Brazilian Singer Angela Ro Dies at 75
rio de Janeiro – Angela ro, a celebrated Brazilian singer known for her distinctive voice and candid lyrics, died today at the age of 75. No cause of death was immediately announced.
Ro launched her career in the 1960s, becoming a prominent figure in the Brazilian music scene. She released numerous albums throughout her six-decade career, including “I got no Millennium” in 2000, “Compasso” in 2006, “Happy Life!” in 2013, and “Wild” in 2017.
The singer publicly battled chemical dependency, a struggle she addressed openly. in 2000, she made a decisive change, abandoning drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes, and later lost approximately 35 pounds. She recounted in an interview with O Globo magazine that the turning point came after being unable to perform Frank Sinatra‘s “All The Way” during a 1999 show, leading to hospitalization.
“Living without drugs is easy. It is difficult to live under the mistreatment. Be crazy, stop drinking! Be crazy, stop smoking,” Ro once said, as reported by O Globo.
Ro also spoke about the difficult choices she made during her recovery,including a frank conversation with a longtime employee also struggling with addiction. “Either me, or the drugs,” she recalled telling her maid, ultimately ending the relationship to protect her sobriety.
In addition to her musical career, Ro hosted the talk show “Scandal” on Canal Brasil between 2004 and 2005. She was also honored with a tribute album, “Poor well done: the songs of Angela Ro” in 2013, featuring male artists reinterpreting her work.
Most recently, Maria Bethânia honored Angela Ro at a show on September 8, 2025, celebrating Ro’s 60 years of career.