Lenine

Lenine attained widespread acclaim throughout the 1990s by fusing northeastern Brazilian rhythms with pop songcraft. Interpretations of his material came from Dionne Warwick, who joined him on the 1994 duet “Virou Areia,” as well as from Gilberto Gil, Danilo Caymmi, Sérgio Mendes, Tim Maia, and additional singers. Although raised in the northeast, Lenine absorbed the region’s frevo and maracatu traditions without conscious study while immersing himself in American rock during his teenage years. At seventeen he fell under the spell of the mineiros linked to Clube da Esquina and of other MPB figures such as Gilberto Gil. A self-taught singer and violonista, he settled in Rio de Janeiro in 1976. That move led to his appearance at Rede Globo’s 1981 MPB Festival, where he performed the song “Prova de Fogo,” issued the same year as his debut single on Polydor. In 1983 he issued his first album, the joint project Baque Solto with Lula Queiroga on Polygram; the record, later reissued on CD by MPB in 1998, merged northeastern grooves with electric pop and rock. Also in 1983 Polygram released the single “Baque da Era.” A 1990 meeting with fellow Pernambucan Marcos Suzano, an accomplished percussionist who has served as sideman for numerous leading artists, proved decisive. Lenine’s composition “As Voltas Que o Mundo Dá” entered the soundtrack of the telenovela Ana Raio e Zé Trovão. The 1993 collaborative album Olho de Peixe, recorded with Suzano for Velas, ranked among Japan’s one hundred best-selling releases that year. His first solo album, O Dia Em Que Faremos Contato, appeared in 1997. The following year he received Sharp prizes in the MPB categories of Revelation and Best Song for “A Ponte,” written with Lula Queiroga. A VMB nomination recognized the track “Dois Olhos Negros,” which was also featured in the soap opera Era uma Vez. Participation in the 5 no Palco project during 1988 brought live performances throughout São Paulo state with Chico César, Paulinho Moska, Marcos Suzano, and Zeca Baleiro. In 1999 he released the solo album Na Pressão. His voice and songs have graced recordings by Carlos Malta, Chico César, Djavan, Elba Ramalho, Fernanda Abreu, Jane Duboc, Marcos Suzano, Mestre Ambrósio, Paulinho Moska, Pedro Luís e a Parede, O Rappa, Renata Arruda, Vange Milliet, Zélia Duncan, Reginaldo Rossi, and others. At the 2000 Musiques sur l'Ile Nantes Festival he shared the stage with Cesária Évora and João Bosco.