The union of almost 50 years of Rita Lee and Roberto de Carvalho shows how love overcomes any barrier

Music is something passionate, even more so when made with love. And when a couple in love get together to compose romantic songs, the result is nothing less than some of the most iconic hits in Brazilian music. Yeah, that’s what happened to Rita Lee and Roberto de Carvalho, who together created several phonographic hits and are a benchmark of union in the artistic environment. But do you know the real love story of this couple, which has already reached 50 years of “dating”?

We, from awesome.club, we found this relationship very inspiring and decided to tell you how it all started, what they’ve been through and how they’ve stayed together for so long. Check out!

As Rita Lee herself says: “I wasn’t born to be a housewife and wash underpants”. So, it was with this strong personality that she started playing in rock bands as a teenager. Thus, she appeared in some groups and ended up joining the brothers Arnaldo Baptista and Sérgio Dias in the group Os Mutantes. They were very successful and are part of Tropicália, including having participated in the movement’s iconic album.

After leaving the band in 1972, Rita launched her solo career, but felt she needed a group. So, she formed the band Tutti-Frutti, having released at that time the hits Ovelha Negra and Agora Só Segue Você. During this period, she met her future musical and life partner, Roberto de Carvalho, who would fill her life in such a way that she disbanded the group, in 1978, and embarked on a solo career, always in partnership with her beloved.

Roberto is five years younger than her and started playing the piano when he was a child. Then, aged 12, he was introduced to the sound of the Beatles and decided to play guitar, but always interspersed with João Gilberto’s guitars. His talent led him to be part of Ney Matogrosso’s band, later nominated to audition at Tutti-Frutti and accompany Rita on her new venture.

In 1975, Roberto de Carvalho was playing with Ney Matogrosso, with whom Rita went to see a show and stopped by the dressing room to say hello. Upon arriving, she came across Roberto and was already attracted. So, she called Ney to dinner and he understood that it was to take his friend. At her house, her future husband started playing the piano and she instantly melted. She hurried to touch up her lipstick and put on some perfume, returning to sit beside him. From then on, they never let go.

Rita explains this connection: “We agreed a lot, there was an alchemy between us. We have almost perfect chemistry.” And Roberto adds: “When we met there was an epiphany. It was something bigger than ourselves, very magical, crazy. We started to compose, but it was all very spontaneous and organic, we were indoors, pregnancy, the children being born and an overwhelming romance, which continues until today”.

Despite the overwhelming passion, there were rumors that Roberto was giving Rita a blow. However, since sincerity reigned in the relationship, they knew what to expect from each other and did not listen to each other’s opinions. Thus, they exceeded expectations and formed a very in tune composition duo. He made the melodies and she wrote the lyrics, creating something original, unlike anything she had done before. This was the beginning of a succession of hits in Brazilian music, such as Mania de Você, Doce Vampiro, Baila Comigo, Caso Sério and Tecla Perfume.

Rita and Roberto became a single entity. She says: “We were always a duo. There is a Rita before and another after Roberto”. Thus, they built a successful career and a family of much love and unity. She jokes that she doesn’t know how he puts up with her, but understands that he has a safe haven by her side, that he withstood the bars in difficult times and took care of the children when she couldn’t.

About a year after they met, Rita became pregnant with her first child, Roberto (now known as Beto Lee), and warned her father in an unusual way. She says that she called him and said: “Oh, you are going to be a father. There’s no charge, it’s an independent production, man, I’m just warning you”. But of course he wouldn’t let her down and always stood by his partner. Then came two more boys, João and Antônio, each about two years apart.

About her family, Rita says: “I had a wonderful life. I was lucky to be born into the family I was born into. I was lucky to have found Roberto and to have had three wonderful children, and now to have two grandchildren. This is crazy luck.”

Despite the union, the couple only officially married 20 years after they met. In recent years, they have retired to live inland, in a calmer environment and away from the hustle and bustle of São Paulo. The retirement show took place in 2012 and, since then, they have dedicated themselves to painting, composing music, taking care of the many animals and pampering the grandchildren. According to her: “Now, I live the old age I always dreamed of: living in the bush surrounded by plants and animals, in the company of Roberto, my boyfriend of almost 50 years”.

Recently, Rita went through a delicate situation, diagnosed with cancer, she isolated herself at home and received all the support and affection from her husband to face the treatment. Finally healed, Roberto declared himself to her in the face of this situation: “What a difficult year my love! What an ordeal! My heart was broken at many moments, only to be dazzled by all your demonstrations of courage, willpower and resistance.”

Even with so many years of union, the couple still melts in praise, in a state of eternal “dating”. According to Rita: “He expanded my musical world. I was only three positions (on the guitar) and suddenly Roberto came with an ocean of music. He is very chic, has good taste, an elegance in everything. In the look, in the touch, in the talk”.

Roberto also declares himself to his wife and says: “Rita is an icon that comes from long before the moment we met. She has a profound talent and good taste, owner of the sexiest voice I’ve ever known in my life. Reinventing yourself and overcoming yourself. My wife is a genius.”

Really, this is one hell of a love story, isn’t it? Do you know anyone who has had such a long and passionate marriage? Leave your comment and tell us!