SYLVIA DE GRASSE
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Sylvia De Grasse (Casco Antiguo, Panama City, October 28, 1921 - San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 14, 1978) was a Panamanian singer with a wide vocal range who was considered “The Queen of the Tamborera” and “The Empress of Panamanian Song.” As a girl, De Grasse studied at a specialized music school where she received the support of a teacher named Prof. Graciani, who helped her improve her vocal abilities with an emphasis on classical technique, and soon she was heard throughout Panama on the radio. She recorded her first 78 RPM singles for RCA in Panama at the young age of 14, most of which were in the highly percussive tamborera style or other Panamanian genres like tamborito and mejorana.
She was known for her work with the Dominican duo Chapuseaux (her husband) and Damirón, forming "Los Alegres Tres." Together they performed all over Latin America, as well as in the US and Europe, sharing the stage with the likes of Sammy Davis Jr., Nat "King" Cole, Louis Armstrong, and Tito Puente.