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Brazilian Singer. Photo by Juliansamsantos. .

10 Most Famous Brazilian singers

Brazil is a beautiful country famous for the carnivals and great variety of music it has. The music style in Brazil is influenced by European, African and Amerindian forms. Brazilian music is very unique. It has even influenced the overall musical weather.

Some common genres of music in the country includes styles such as forr贸, repente, coco de roda, ax茅, sertanejo, samba, bossa nova, MPB, m煤sica nativista, pagode, tropic谩lia, choro, maracatu, embolada (coco de repente), frevo, brega, Brazilian funk, modinha and Brazilian versions of foreign musical styles, such as rock, soul, hip-hop, disco music, country music, ambient, industrial and psychedelic music, rap, classical music, fado, and gospel.

Famous Brazilian singers are not only singers but also great composers. Here are 10 of the most famous Brazilian singers to explore.

1. Roberto Carlos

Roberto Carlos. Photo by Teca Lamboglia.

Carlos begun studying piano and guitar at age 9. He quickly developed an ear for singing as well and was featured on the radio in the 50s. Influenced by Elvis Presley, he became one of the pioneers of Brazilian pop-rock.

As he got older, his songs became known as more romantic, and as he gained fame, he also became interested in political protests- a theme in his career to this day. Carlos has sold over 140 million albums worldwide, most of which are self-titled.

2. Joao Gilberto

Joao Gilberto is one of the early pioneers of the bossa nova musical tradition and remains the most influential artist of that style to this day. Gilberto embraced modern amplification techniques for voice and acoustic guitar early in his career, using the new technology to sing and play with a lighter touch.

This subtlety combined with a beautifully flowing rhythmic pulse became key factors in what we call bossa nova today.

3. Chico Buarque

Photo by Dilma Rousseff from Bras铆lia, Brasil..

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Buarque grew up fascinated by both European literature and bossa nova music. These passions followed Buarque into his musical career, as he began to develop a style of complex and clever wordplay atop classic samba and bossa nova grooves.

Despite his music being heavily censored by the Brazilian government during tough political times, singer, writer, guitarist, and activist Chico Buarque is an international and local legend.

4. Milton Nascimento

Singer, guitarist, and composer Milton Nascimento is a Brazilian star who has contributed greatly to the Brazilian music industry. Though he came from humble beginnings in Rio de Janeiro, he was brought to popularity by his compositions.

His international fame started in the early 1970s when saxophonist Wayne Shorter hired Nascimento on a Brazilian-themed recording. While the singer-songwriter鈥檚 music is undeniably Brazilian, he has bridged the gap into world music, collaborating with the biggest names of the North American and European pop scenes to date. 

5. Ivan Lins

Composer of Love Dance and Comecar de Novo (The Island), Ivan Lins has solidified his reputation as Brazilian music royalty through his unique sound as a composer, pianist, and singer.

Lins currently remains committed to activism surrounding copyright law and ensuring fair compensation for musicians. Lins remains active in Brazil and internationally to this day. He has won Latin Grammys and countless other accolades.

6. Antonio Carlos Jobim

Tom Jobim, 1965. Fundo documental: Correio da Manh茫. Photo by Unknown. .

Antonio Carlos Jobim was a renowned artist both in the Brazilian scene and internationally. He collaborated with numerous American and European musicians and composed music recorded and performed to this day.

Songs like 鈥楥orcovado鈥�, The Girl From Ipanema, and 鈥極ne Note Samba鈥� remain a part of the jazz and Latin music repertoire to this day and have been recorded by the who鈥檚 who of the music business.

7. Elis Regina

Elis Regina is known for her tasteful renditions of others鈥� music and the prodigy status she earned by making her singing debut on a children鈥檚 radio broadcast. Her career included the famous Elis and Tom collaboration with Antonio Carlos Jobim and political activism by Regina critiquing Brazil鈥檚 then military government.

Her celebrity reputation protected her from the political regime but not from the personal crises and addiction problems that led to an overdose at the tragically young age of 36.

8. Caetano Veloso

Caetano Veloso at Umbria Jazz (Perugia – Italy). Photo by User:Starlight.

Caetano Veloso is a well-known name amongst Brazilian singers and was one of the early contributors to the Tropicalia movement that swept the nation鈥檚 arts and culture scenes. Growing up in the Bahia Province, Veloso took up guitar and vocals while studying philosophy in college.

The Tropicalia movement became controversial when Brazil became more oppressive politically, prompting Veloso and other influential musicians and artists to briefly relocate to Europe. However, he eventually returned and has maintained a vibrant career.

9. Luiz Gonzaga

Many great singers accompany themselves on guitar or piano, but the ever-unique Luiz Gonzaga opted for the accordion instead. He pioneered the style now known as baiao and remained true to his northern roots throughout his career.

Gonzaga wore traditional clothes from his home state and played in a traditionally recognizable style. This made him popular amongst northerners who had taken residence in Rio de Janeiro and missed their homeland. Through a long career, he popularized baiao and the accordion in Brazil.

10. Carmen Miranda

Photo of Carmen Miranda published by the New York Sunday News in 1943. Photo by New York Sunday News. .

Nicknamed 鈥淭he Brazilian Bombshell鈥� Carmen Miranda was a singer, dancer, Broadway actress, and film star, known as the world鈥檚 foremost interpreter of samba. Miranda鈥檚 unforgettable performances and signature fruit hat helped to popularize Brazilian music around the world.

Carmen Miranda found fame in 1930 with her recording of 鈥淭a铆 (Pra Voc锚 Gostar de Mim).鈥� She is known as the most famous Brazilian woman of all time. Prior to her music and acting career, Miranda was a hatmaker. She left a very huge mark to the Brazilian music industry. Sh will forever be remembered for her prowess and ease in enhancing the industry.