Myrta Silva

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Myrta Silva (a.k.a. "La Gorda De Oro") (born September 11, 1917 – December 2, 1987 in Arecibo, Puerto Rico) was a singer, composer and T.V. producer.

Myrta Silva

Myrta's father died when she was only six years old. She was raised by her mother, known by Myrta and her fans as "Mama Yeya", who was also her source of inspiration.

In 1927, Myrta made her first public presentation at the "Oliver Theater" in Arecibo. In 1928, Myrta and her mother moved to New York, where she was to start a career in radio, theater and musical plays.

Myrta worked in a cabaret when she was "discovered" and offered a 10 year contract by "RCA". In the late 1930's, she met the renowned Puerto Rican composer Rafael Hernandez, who convinced her to join his "Cuarteto Victoria". Myrta traveled with the group all over Latin-America. Sometime later, she was also to sing for another renowned composer, Pedro Flores in his "Sexteto Flores, where she was joined by Daniel Santos and Pedro Ortiz Davila "Davilita".

In 1941, Myrta composed her first song "Cuando Vuelvas" (When you return) recorded by Ruth Fernandez. In 1942, she composed "En Mi Soledad" (In My Solitude), recorded by Daniel Santos, which became a hit in Latin-America and in the Latin communities in the United States. In 1944, she wrote "Asi es la Vida", (That's Life) and "Facil de Recordar" (Easy to Remember), which she wrote while she was performing in Havana, Cuba.

Myrta had become an international singing star and was known as "The Queen of the Guarachera" by the her public in Latin-America. From 1947 to 1949, she became the lead singer in the legendary Cuban guaracha-group, the Sonora Matancera, while at the same time she continued to compose and to receive many recognitions for her work. Traveling throughout Latin America with the group, Myrta acquired many acclaims due to her performances, Argentina named her the "best-selling artist" in that country and in 1950, she was proclaimed by the pre-Castro Cuban government "The Most Popular Artist". When she decided to leave the group in the early 1950, she was replaced by Celia Cruz a young school teacher turned singer who went on to become known as the "Queen of Salsa".

In 1956, Myrta produced and transmitted from New York a television program called "Una Hora Contigo" (An Hour with You). The show was transmitted by Canal 4 in Puerto Rico and Myrta moved back to the island. In her show she created the innovative character of "Madame Chencha". "Madame Chencha" became the first T.V. character dedicated to "rumors". This character created a lot of controversy between public figures and the television station, and as a consequence, Myrta decided to leave the program and return to New York.

In New York, she composed "Puerto Rico del Alma" (Puerto Rico of my Soul). Between 1962 and 1964, she composed the following hit songs: "Que Sabes Tu" (What do you know?), "Tengo que Acostumbrarme" (I Have To Get Used To It), "Juguetes del Destino" (Toys of Destiny), and many others.

In the 1970s, Myrta wrote "No Te Vayas de Mi Vida" (Stay In My Life) which was recorded and made popular by Evelyn Souffront. In 1971, Myrta returned to Puerto Rico with her television show "Una Hora Contigo" which this time was transmitted on Canal 11. The TV show was among the first programs in the rankings in Puerto Rico.

Myrta was active in many charities and she also participated in many pro-Hispanic activities in the U.S. During the 1980s Myrta had a program in the government television channel dedicated to music and composers.

Myrta Silva was suffering from Alzheimer's disease and one day while showering, she accidentally opened the hot water and suffered from 3rd degree burns. Myrta Silva died on December 2, 1987.