Actress, singer, dancer, and entertainer Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero – born January 23, 1933, in Washington, DC – was better known professionally as Chita Rivera. After performing in a touring version of Call Me Madam, the award-winning performer made her Broadway debut in 1950, appearing as a dancer in Guys and Dolls. This show led to performing in other productions including Can-Can, Mr. Wonderful, and Seventh Heaven. She continued on Broadway, appearing in the original production of West Side Story (1957), where she originated the role of Anna. In 1960, Chita Rivera was nominated for a Tony Award for her role as Rose in the smash Broadway hit Bye Bye Birdie, which led to television performances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Judy Garland Show, and others. However, she did not land the role of Rose in the film version of the musical. She continued to perform on Broadway but also branched out into acting on television, starring in an episode of sci-fi series The Outer Limits. Outside of her soundtrack recordings, she released her first album, And Now I Sing, in 1961, which was followed by Chita! the following year. Chita Rivera then signed as a solo artist to Dot Records and released her first single for the label in 1965 and worked on an album of Buddy Holly cover versions which remains unreleased. However, she issued a single from these sessions - “Raining in My Heart” - in 1967. Alongside national tours and television appearances, she co-starred in the 1969 film version of Sweet Charity alongside Shirley MacLaine. Her career as an actress and performer continued for several decades and she appeared in musicals, on television, and in feature films. Although she recorded several solo albums, the majority of her recorded output consists of original cast recordings including Zenda (1963), Bajour (1964), Chicago (1975), Bring Back Birdie (1981), The Rink (1984), Kiss of the Spider Woman: The Musical (1992), and others. Throughout her career, she has been honored with many awards including three tony Awards (1984, 1993, and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018), two Drama Desk Awards (1984 and 1993), a Drama League Award (2015), and a Theatre World Award (2015). She was the first Latina artist to receive a Kennedy Center Honor (2002). Chita Rivera died after a brief illness on January 30, 2024, at the age of 91.
