Marina Elali was born in Natal, Brazil on April 6, 1982. The child of Arabic and Brazilian parents, her grandfather (Ze Dantas) having been Luiz Gonzaga's (King of Baiao) musical partner, Elali grew up in a multiculturally and musically rich household. Interested in performing from her earliest years, Elali experimented with ballet and theater before settling in with music. Her studies began at the Colegio Marista de Natal where she studied piano and voice beginning age eight. The young artist continued to develop her performance potential through her teen years, performing alongside some of Brazil's most important names (Luiz Melodia, Zeca Baliero, Azevedo) on local and regional stages. Elali then took her musical education to the next level, spending three years studying at the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she honed her performance skill, technique and knowledge of music theory. Returning to Natal after her years studying abroad, the young vocalist received some local recognition, but it was her breakthrough into television that would bring her to the public's attention. In 2004, Elali participated in the Globo Television show #FAMA, a performance talent competition. Though Elali was eliminated (criticized for her arrogance), the show served as a platform off which she launched her recording career. In addition to a number of singles, Elali released her debut solo record in 2005. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez, Rovi