Carmen Sánchez Levi

María del Carmen Sánchez Levi (7 December 1931 – 13 February 2018), known as Carmela Rey, was a Mexican singer and actress, specialized in the musical genre of bolero.

One of the last official vocalists of Agustín Lara, she became famous in the 1950s as a soloist on radio and television programs, and recorded exclusively for Musart Records and later for RCA Records. In movies, she had starring roles in A sablazo limpio (1958), Viva la parranda (1960), Las hijas del Amapolo (1962), and Escuela para solteras (1965).

With her husband, singer Rafael Vázquez, she formed a duet named Carmela y Rafael, "The Romantic Couple of Mexico", which was hugely successful in the 1960s and 1970s.

Life and career Carmela Rey was born in Xalapa, the capital of Veracruz, Mexico. Her parents were Vicente Sánchez Rebolledo and Dinah Levi Rey. She took her stage name from her maternal grandmother, Isabel Rey. Carmela finished her primary and secondary school in Mexico City, and learned solfège, harmony, history of music, and Italian at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música. She was also a student of the famous Mexican contralto Fanny Anitúa. She was 86 years old. Her grandson revealed the cause of her death to be "a heart attack and she was asleep, so when we found her she was in her bed; and although she suffered from hypertension this was not the cause of her death". Her husband, who is in delicate health, was not able to attend her funeral service. Her remains were cremated on 14 February.

Discography Carmela Rey con las orquestas de José Sabre Marroquín y Enrico Cabiati (Musart M270) Carmela Rey interpreta a Agustín Lara (Musart D369) Carmela Rey - Agustín Lara (RCA Víctor MKL-1600) Amar y vivir (Musart 1564) Los hits de Carmela Rey

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1957 La mujer marcada Singer 1958 A sablazo limpio Rosaura Film debut1959 Mi mujer necesita marido Singer Yo pecador Florita 1960 Viva la parranda Chole 1962 Las hijas del Amapolo Luz 1965 Escuela para solteras Lucero