Popular Brazilian music artists

There has been a variety of Brazilian music artists that have shaped and influence the music of Brazil. Below are some of the most influential Brazilian singers & musicians that have given Brazilian music most of its soul.

This list of artists, singers, songwriters and Brazilian musicians may be short for a country whose musical universe is infinite and many other Brazilian music artists could be added to this list. Each one of the following Brazilian artists deserves to be part of this special list.

Antonio Carlos Jobim (Tom Jobim)
Antonio Carlos Jobim, also known as Tom Jobim, was a Brazilian singer, songwriter, composer, and pianist/guitarist. He is considered one the most influential Brazilian music artist in history of Brazilian music. He helped shape bossa nova style music and was very influential in shaping modern Brazilian music.

Many of his songs have been performed by many singers and instrumentalists within Brazil and internationally. One of his most famous songs was “The Girl from Ipanema” (Garota de Ipanema), which was one of the most recorded songs of all time, Jobim has left a large number of songs that are today included in the standard Jazz and Pop repertoires.

Vinicius de Moraes
Vinicius de Moraes is one of biggest artist and songwriters of all time in Brazil. His work is closely related to his long collaboration with Antonio Carlos Jobim. They worked together many times in a variety of song that became famous in Brazil and around the world.

Roberto Carlos
Roberto Carlos is one of the best selling Brazilian music artists of all time, he has sold over 120 million albums worldwide, he is considered the King of Brazilian Music, he started his career in 1970s and his popularity for singing a romantic style gained fans from all around Latin America, he was the first one to sing Latin Pop Music.

Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil has produced an extensive repertoire of music that is both innovative and meaningful. He is one of the most influential Brazilian music artists and is one of the main figures responsible for the Tropicalia movement ( Tropicalismo) in 1960s and that movement was involved the singer Caetano Veloso too. He has also won several Grammy awards.

Jorge Ben Jor
Jorge Ben Jor was one of the most innovated Brazilian music artists. He represented a bridge between the traditional rhythms and foreign sounds. He had a very unique style that was like a combination of Samba-Rock and Funk and his songs had a big impact on modern Brazilian music and influenced many Brazilian music artists.

Marisa Monte
Marisa Monte has been one of the most popular Brazilian music artists over the past two decades. She has sold over 10 million albums worldwide. Her style of music is influenced by Bossa Nova, Samba and Popular Brazilian Music – MPB.

Elis Regina
Elis Regina is well known to have one of the best voices in Brazilian music. She played a big role in the most important musical expressions of the 60s and 70s. Her sweet, smooth voice touched Bossa Nova, Brazilian Popular Music (MPB) and the Tropicalia wave.

Joao Gilberto
Joao Gilberto was one of the greatest Brazilian musicians and guitar players of all time. He is known as the father of Bossa Nova, with his talent and innovation playing guitar style he was able to build Bossa Nova from its original Samba roots.

Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso is one of the most talented Brazilian singers. He is the type of musician that can do anything because he is very diverse. This prolific singer, songwriter, guitarist and poet has one of the largest repertoires a Brazilian music artist has ever produced. He is also one of the founders of the Tropicalia movement and his music has had a profound impact in the making of modern Brazilian music. Some of his hits include “Sampa, ” “Queixa” and “Leaozinho.” Caetano Veloso is definitely among the best Brazilian music artists in history.

Chico Buarque de Hollanda
Chico Buarque has had the heart’s of the Brazilian people since the 60s. Beside his good looks and unique voice, Chico Buarque has written some of the best lyrics in Brazilian Popular Music (MPB). Most of his important songs were charged with political messages that spoke up against the Brazilian dictatorship of the 60s and 70s. One of his popular songs are “Roda Viva, ” “Vai Passar, ” “Apesar de Você, ” and “O que Será.”