Gilda

Biography

Myriam Alejandra Bianchi (11 October 1961 – 7 September 1996), known by her stage name Gilda, was an Argentinian cumbia singer and songwriter.

Life and career

Myriam Alejandra Bianchi was born on 11 October 1961 in Villa Devoto, Buenos Aires, and grew up in the neighbourhood of Villa Lugano.

Music

Her stage name was chosen in honour of the femme fatale character played by Rita Hayworth in Gilda, the 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 ("From heart to heart") after signing up to local label Magenta. The following year, La única ("The one and only") featuring the hit Corazón herido ("Broken Heart ") and La puerta ("The door") was released.
In 1995, Pasito a pasito ("Step by step") was released, including the hit (and one of her most popular songs) No me arrepiento de este amor ("I don't regret this love").

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×Corazón valiente1995 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Fuiste3:032Ámame suavecito3:323No te quedes afuera4:144Paisaje4:245Corazón valiente3:356Te necesito3:017Un amor verdadero4:448Como marea3:169Si supieras3:5110Hasta el amanecer4:1511Jesucristo2:5512No te quedes afuera (remix)3:32 ("Brave heart"). 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 (Argentina) 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 ("Not my farewell"). 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 ("You were"), 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.

Studio albums

1992 – De corazón a corazón – Disgal S.A.
1993 – La única – Clan Music
1994 – Pasito a pasito con... Gilda (CD) – Clan music
1995 – Pasito a pasito con... Gilda (LP) – Santa Fe Records
1995 – Corazón valiente (Gold and Double Platinum album in Argentina) – es:Leader Music
1996 – Si hay alguien en tu vida – es:Magenta Discos
1997 – Entre el cielo y la tierra (posthumous) – Leader Music

Other albums

1997 – 17 Grandes éxitos y remixes – Por siempre Gilda – Universal Music Group
1997 – Un sueño hecho realidad – Magenta Discos
1998 – Por siempre Gilda 2 – Grandes Exitos y Remixados – Universal Music Group
1999 – Cuando canta el corazón – Universal Music Group
1999 – Las alas del alma – Leader Music
1999 – Un sueño hecho realidad 2 – Temas inéditos – Magenta Discos
1999 – Gildance – Músicavisión
1999 – El álbum de oro – Universal Music Group
2000 – Desde el alma [Grandes éxitos] – Universal Music Group
2004 – Colección furia tropical – Warner Bros. Records
2005 – Colección de oro Vol 1 – Magenta Discos
2005 – Colección de oro Vol 2 – Magenta Discos
2006 – Megamix (24 Hits) – Leader Music
2007 – La única – Leader Music
2008 – La más grande – Magenta Discos
2011 – Un amor verdadero (DVD) – Leader Music
2011 – 20 grandes éxitos – Leader Music
2011 – No me arrepiento de este amor – Leader Music
2014 – Grandes éxitos – Magenta Discos

In the media

In 2012 the Grupo Editorial Planeta published Gilda, la abanderada de la bailanta (her only authorized biography), 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.