Elis Regina

   I am listening to the lovely voice of Elis Regina, whom I've discovered in the past two years.  Her voice was like no other.

  She started singing at the age of 12 and became one of Brazil's most famous singers, with a personality filled with fire and perfection, to the chagrin of some of her band.

   I just love to hear her sing "Aguas de Marco" with Antonio Carlos Jobim.  This is just a thrilling song to listen to.  It's on the "Antonio Carlos Jobim Songbook" CD.

    Tragically, Elis died of a cocaine overdose in 1983.  Like so many musicians, she was an addict.  I've been listening to Elis for a few years now and did not realize that she was no longer alive.

    Wikipedia has a good article about her:   

"She became nationally renowned in 1965, after singing "Arrastão" (composed by Edu Lobo and Vinícius de Moraes) in the first edition of TV Excelsiorfestival song contest, and soon joined O Fino da Bossa, a television program on TV Record. Elis was noted for her vocalization, as well as for her personal interpretation and performances in shows. She recorded several successful compositions, such as "Como nossos pais" (Belchior), "Upa Neguinho" (E. Lobo and Gianfrancesco Guarnieri), "Madalena" (Ivan Lins), "Casa no Campo" (Zé Rodrix and Tavito), "Águas de Março" (Tom Jobim), "Atrás da porta" (Chico Buarque and Francis Hime), "O bêbado e a equilibrista" (Aldir Blanc and João Bosco), "Conversando no bar" (Milton Nascimento), etc. Her premature death, at the age of 36, shocked Brazil. Elis Regina is regarded as the best Brazilian singer of all time by many critics, musicians, and commentators.^{[2][3][4][5][6]"}