Thania Garcia Rita Lee, one of Brazil’s top-selling rock artists and an original member of the tropicalia band Os Mutantes, died on May 5 after struggling with lung cancer.
She was 75. The news was confirmed on Tuesday morning via Lee’s official Instagram account which, translated from Portuguese, stated: “We announce the death of Rita Lee, at her residence, in São Paulo, capital, late last night, surrounded by all the love of her family, as she always wanted.” The post also made note that Lee’s body will be cremated, according to her wishes, and included a public invite to attend her wake on May 10.
A post shared by Rita Lee Jones (@ritalee_oficial) Lee was born on Dec. 31, 1947, in Sao Paulo, to her father, a dentist of U.S.
descent, and her mother, a Brazilian pianist. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Lee learned to play the piano, along with several other instruments including drums, guitar, harmonica and autoharp.
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