Elis Regina

Elis Regina Carvalho Costa was born in Porto Alegre in 1945 to a working class family. She began singing on a TV show called Clube de Guri at the age of 12.
Through the TV program, she became a local celebrity. At the age of 15, she moved to Rio, and recorded her first album. Soon, she became a star.

As she obtained fame and success, the country was under control by the military regime. However, she wasn't afraid of criticizing the opression of the regime. In 1965, she sang the controversial song "Arrastao" at a musical festival, as a form of protest. She risked her life and future through these actions. Her popularity rocketed, and the government couldn't punish her in public. However, the military regime used more insiduous tactic. They forced her to sing the traditional anthem at a ceremony to celebrate the anniversary of the military regime. Her pro-governmental action was criticized by leftists and the disappointed public, but it later revealed that she was threatened by the regime.

The album "Elis and Tom", recorded in L.A with A.C.J in the 70's has been called by journalists and musicians, one of the greatest Brazilian pop records ever.

On January 19th, 1982, she was found dead of alcohol and cocaine intoxication at the age of 36. The death was rumored to be a suicide, but there was no evidence. For her memorial concert, over 100,000 Brazilians came to pay their final respects to this gifted, and courageous singer.