Latino

One of the standout songwriters and vocalists to emerge from the carioca funk scene, Latino has consistently achieved commercial traction, earning multiple gold and platinum certifications for his releases. When he turned twelve, his mother and American stepfather relocated him to Rochester, NY. Two years afterward, the carioca dance phenomenon captured his attention. Upon turning twenty-two, he returned to Brazil. Through friendships formed with You Can Dance members, particularly Kadu, he began co-authoring material with the crew. The dancers regularly performed at funk and charm events held in Rio’s working-class neighborhoods, where Latino gained recognition for his skills on the floor and soon joined the ensemble. Before long he launched his own troupe, Young Dance.

Members of You Can Dance introduced him to DJ Adriano and MC Guto of Bass Crew, who asked him to contribute a track to an upcoming compilation. Both his original “You Took My Love” and his vocal take on “Brought Me Love” appeared on Bass Crew, Vol. 1, which led to performance offers and a spot on the Caravana do Amor program. During this stretch Latino endured severe financial strain yet managed to save enough to cut a demo. Seeking out DJ Marlboro with the finished product, he was persuaded instead to sign a recording contract; Marlboro also urged him to record in Portuguese, beginning with the track “Vem Amor.”

Shortly afterward “Me Leva” landed on the Funk Melody compilation, generating further bookings and climbing the Rio radio charts. Latino then joined Sony Music and issued his debut solo album, Marcas de Amor, which attained gold and platinum status. His romantic funk approach has cultivated a devoted female following that attends his concerts. Later releases have met with mixed results, among them the Spanish-language project Latino en Español aimed at Spanish-speaking markets.