One of Brazilian music icons and legends, Elza Soares has passed away. She died on January 20, 2022, at her home in Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro. She passed away at the age of 91.
Her management team and family collectively confirmed her death via her official social media channels on Thursday.
Elza Soares, born Elza da Conceição Soares, was a famous Brazilian samba singer. She was born on June 23, 1930.
She was named Singer of the Millennium along with Tina Turner by BBC Radio in 1999.
Soares has won several awards and nominated for prestigious awards, including the Latin Grammy Awards.
In 1962, Soares represented Brazil at the 1962 FIFA World Cup, where she sang the national anthem.
Toward the end of the decade, the singer married star football player Manuel Francisco dos Santos aka Garrincha.
According to multiple sources, their relationship was volatile as Garrincha dealt with alcoholism; he was drunk at the wheel of the car in the accident that killed her mother.
How did Elza Soares die? Cause of death and disease explained
Announcing her death, her family released a statement on her Facebook page, saying, “The beloved and eternal Elza has been laid to rest, but she will forever be in the history of music and in our hearts and the thousands of fans around the world. Like Elza Soares’ wanted, she sang until the very end.”
Even though Elza Soares’ death is not linked with any disease, her ex-husband Garrincha died of cirrhosis in 1983. She also died on the same day 39 years later.
Cirrhosis is a chronic liver damage from a variety of causes leading to scarring and liver failure. Although the disease is not contagious, hepatitis and chronic alcohol abuse are frequent causes.
