Biography

Rina Celi would become a popular singer in the American jazz and swing styles in post-war Spain.

She started in Radio España (Barcelona branch) singing with piano accompaniment by Eugeni Badia, and was a vocalist with Los Marimberos orchestra. In November 1940 she debuted on the stage of the famed Barcelonian Tivoli theatre, then in Madrid at the Circo Price. She became very popular both in radio and in dance halls, bringing modern airs to the microphone, as opposed to the prevailing typical Spanish folclorical singers of the time like Concha Piquer, Imperio Argentina or Estrellita Castro. She performed at the main Barcelona hot spots : Rigat, Monterrey, Copacabana and El Cortijo.

She recorded her first 78 rpm with Regal record company ("Triste mar", "La luz de tus ojos", "Fuiste tú" and "Espiras de humo" -local adaptation of Smoke Dreams from After the Thin Man (1936)- which launched her to fame) and later also recorded for Odeon. From then on, she would be busy for the decade. She became a sought-after vocalist, working with some of the best orchestras of her home town, specially the one lead by Josep Casas Augé, who in 1944 when she started her own orchestra became its director. Some of her songs were "Anoche soñé", "Mimí mimosa" or "Una chica con imán". And "Tarde de fútbol", which became the soundtrack of the popular radio sports program Carrusel deportivo. She was often part of the Coliseum cinema jazz matinées, and also sang at the Club Trébol. Into a gloomy post-war scenery, Rina brought uptempo rhythms, dedicated deliveries, South American tunes in the way Xavier Cugat was popular for in pictures, light and hot tunes, and much happiness to swing music lovers. Listen for example to "¡Oh, qué calor!", "Bugui-bugui", and for a romantic tune, to "Cierra los ojos" or "Mi bebé "(Baby of Mine, from Dumbo (1941) ).

As her popularity grew, she also appeared in a few pictures, as well as broadcasting regularly, sometimes as radio actress, and also dubbing American pictures. In movies she usually had small roles, like in Deliciosamente tontos (1943) or El hombre de los muñecos (1943), for once starring in Las tinieblas quedaron atrás (1948).

She then turned to musical revue with her own company. With the next decade and the big bands vocalists craze slowing down, in 1953 she emigrated to Argentina with her family. There they ran a hotel, and Rina married and had a daughter. After some time back in Spain and a few appearances, she moved to Paraguay, where she died at 76 years of age.

See also : Javier Barreiro's blog - Rina Celi.
- IMDb mini biography by: BSK