Clementina de Jesus was born on February 7, 1901, in the State of Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...

, Brazil. She worked as a maid for more than 20 years until she was discovered in 1963 by the composer Hermínio Bello de Carvalho

Hermínio Bello de Carvalho

Hermínio Bello de Carvalho is a Brazilian record producer, composer, writer and poet.He is regarded as one of the most respected experts in brazilian music.-External links:*...

. She is considered queen of the Samba

Samba

Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...

 style Partido alto

Partido alto

Partido Alto refers to a type of samba with a number of particularities. In the world of samba subgenres and in samba reunions, partido alto songs can represent a time for improvisation and disputes, besides a stronger singalong opportunity for the participants.Partido Alto is also the name of a...

 and represents the musical missing link between Brazil and Africa. She began her professional carrier when she was 63 and her distinctive voice can be heard on four solo albums as well as other recordings with well known Samba artists such as Pixinguinha

Pixinguinha

Alfredo da Rocha Viana, Jr., better known as Pixinguinha was a composer, arranger, flautist and saxophonist born in Rio de Janeiro. Pixinguinha is considered one of the greatest Brazilian composers of popular music, particularly within the genre of music known as choro...

and João da Bahiana. She died on July 19, 1987.