Gilda (singer)


Miriam Alejandra Bianchi, known by her stage name Gilda was an Argentinian cumbia singer and songwriter.

Biography

Career

Her stage name was chosen in honour of the femme fatale character played by Rita Hayworth in Gilda, the :wikt:eponym|eponymous film. Gilda started getting involved in music while organizing festivals at a Catholic school. After meeting musician and agent Juan Carlos "Toti" Giménez, Gilda became a backup singer, joining a band called La Barra and soon participated in a second band called Crema Americana. In 1993, Giménez convinced her to start a solo career, recording De corazón a corazón after signing up to local label Magenta. The following year, La única featuring the hit Corazón herido and La puerta was released.
In 1995, Pasito a pasito was released, including the hit No me arrepiento de este amor.

Death

On 7 September 1996 Gilda died in a tragic accident while touring the country to promote her last and most successful album, Corazón valiente. Gilda, along with her mother, her daughter, three of her musicians and the bus driver died when a truck crossed the highway median and struck her touring bus head-on on km 129 of National Route 12 in the Province of Entre Ríos, Argentina.

Legacy

Shortly after her death, Gilda was credited by her fans with achieving miracles and some even called her a saint. On her birthday, fans go to her shrine at the accident site and leave blue candles, flowers, gifts and other offerings.
At the time of her death, Gilda was working on a new album, but only recorded five songs, which were included on the 1997 posthumous album called No es mi despedida. The album included one of her most successful songs: "Se me ha perdido un corazón", two live songs and some songs of other tropical singers. Another album of unreleased material and demos called "Las alas del alma" was released in 1999. Among her best-known songs are Fuiste, No me arrepiento de este amor and No es mi despedida.
Some of her songs were re-edited after her death, most notably Attaque 77's version of No me arrepiento de este amor.

Discography

Studio albums

  1. 1992 – De corazón a corazón – Disgal S.A.
  2. 1993 – La única – Clan Music
  3. 1994 – Pasito a pasito con... Gilda – Clan music
  4. 1995 – Pasito a pasito con... Gilda – Santa Fe Records
  5. 1995 – Corazón valiente – :es:Leader Music
  6. 1996 – Si hay alguien en tu vida – :es:Magenta Discos
  7. 1997 – Entre el cielo y la tierra – Leader Music

    Other albums

  8. 1997 – 17 Grandes éxitos y remixes – Por siempre Gilda – Universal Music Group
  9. 1997 – Un sueño hecho realidad – Magenta Discos
  10. 1998 – Por siempre Gilda 2 – Grandes Exitos y Remixados – Universal Music Group
  11. 1999 – Cuando canta el corazón – Universal Music Group
  12. 1999 – Las alas del alma – Leader Music
  13. 1999 – Un sueño hecho realidad 2 – Temas inéditos – Magenta Discos
  14. 1999 – Gildance – Músicavisión
  15. 1999 – El álbum de oro – Universal Music Group
  16. 2000 – Desde el alma – Universal Music Group
  17. 2004 – Colección furia tropical – Warner Bros. Records
  18. 2005 – Colección de oro Vol 1 – Magenta Discos
  19. 2005 – Colección de oro Vol 2 – Magenta Discos
  20. 2006 – Megamix – Leader Music
  21. 2007 – La única – Leader Music
  22. 2008 – La más grande – Magenta Discos
  23. 2011 – Un amor verdadero – Leader Music
  24. 2011 – 20 grandes éxitos – Leader Music
  25. 2011 – No me arrepiento de este amor – Leader Music
  26. 2014 – Grandes éxitos – Magenta Discos

    In the media

In 2012 the Grupo Editorial Planeta published Gilda, la abanderada de la bailanta, by journalist Alejandro Margulis.
In 2015 the play Gilda was inaugurated in Buenos Aires with Florencia Berthold in the lead role and directed by Iván Espeche.
I'm Gilda, a biographical film about her life and career was released on 15 September 2016, the 20th anniversary of her death featuring Natalia Oreiro as Gilda as well as several musicians from her original band.