Dorothy 1963

Dorothy Peroni had two passions: singing and teaching children! She graduated as a school-teacher in 1961, and found work as a teacher at a 'parque infantil' in the outskirts of sprawling São Paulo from 7:00 am to 12:00 noon. 

At the same time Dorothy pursued her dream of becoming a professional singer - Ella Fitzgerald was her idol - and was signed by TV Tupi, Channel 4, to sing jazz tunes in one of their musicals. 

Soon after Carnaval 1963, independent label Audio Fidelity released a single that become #1 in the land: Vinicius de Moraes & Baden Powell's 'Samba em prelúdio' sung by Geraldo Vandré and Ana Lúcia. 

Radio & TV personality Enzo de Almeida Passos had a weekly programme at TV Tupi called 'Recreio do disco' and as 'Samba em prelúdio' reached #1 in the charts, producer Magno Salerno arranged for the song to be presented at the show but Ana Lúcia was away touring Northeast Brazil (she didn't even know 'Samba em prelúdio' was Number One in São Paulo and Rio). 

Magno Salerno then approached Dorothy with a 'Samba em prelúdio' single in his hands and told her she had to learn Ana Lucia's part in 24 hours to sing Ana Lucia's part with Geraldo Vandré. Everyone knows how intricate this song is for there is a main melody to be sung by the male part followed by a different melody by a female counterpart. In the second half, both parts inter-mingle until they finally 'meet' at the very last line of the song. 

Geraldo Vandré was already in the studio when Dorothy arrived and they went through the song once or twice before the cameras started rolling on... Dorothy sang Ana Lucia's part as if it had been written for her... 

Alfredo Corletto, a Continental Discos executive who was at TV Tupi studio was impressed with Dorothy's rendition and promised her a recording contract at his label. That's how Dorothy started. 

Dorothy at 'Revista do Radio' no. 715 - 1st June 1963.

Dorothy Peroni's story at 'Revista do Radio'. 

Dorothy was signed impromptu by Continental Discos' Alfredo Coreltto after singing 'Samba em prelúdio' with Geraldo Vandré on TV Tupi's 'Recreio do Disco' presented by Enzo de Almeida Passos.