Biography
Picture if you will a female performer who does it all: singer, songwriter, producer, outrageously colorful performer, sexually provocative, very attractive, not at all demure and submissive, frequently controversial, and also a talented actor -- no, not Madonna -- think Brazil, think Elba Ramalho.

Born in 1941, Elba Ramalho is a dizzying force of nature and one of the most successful and popular vocalists to emerge from Brazil's northeast. A veritable Renaissance woman: world class handball player, drummer, student of sociology, Ramalho gave it all up in the mid-70s to head to Rio and give singing and performing a shot with the band Quintero Violado. Her first solo record, 1979's Ave de Prata, was released to great acclaim and, almost overnight, Elba Ramalho became a star. A powerful performer, Ramalho sings not only traditional Brazilian styles but over the course of her career has most quite comfortably into rock, funk, salsa, and Caribbean music. Backed by the sensational Banda Rojao, Ramalho (like Madonna, or even Tina Turner) live is an experience: glitzy, glamorous, bumping and grinding in her impossibly short skirts, cavorting with her dancers and back up singers -- to say she is flamboyant is an understatement (for aural documentation check out her 1989 release Elba ao Vivo). But if she was simply flamboyant and had no talent she'd be no more interesting than Charro. The fact is that Ramalho, with all the pomp and circumstance intact, is a daring performer singing songs about independence for Brazil's northeast ("Nordeste Independente"), as well as paeans to the simple joys of giving it up and getting down. While she may resemble American icons like Madonna and Tina Turner, but make no mistake, despite any superficial similarities Elba Ramalho is her own woman, no comparisons do her justice. ~ John Dougan, Rovi




 
Videos
Close
Elba Ramalho - Ai Que Saudade D'Ocê (Ao Vivo)
Elba Ramalho: "De Volta Pro Aconchego"
Elba Ramalho - Chão de Giz (Ao Vivo)
Elba Ramalho - Frisson
Elba Ramalho: Medley Pra Dançar O São João | Ao Vivo no São João de Campina Grande
Toque de fole (feat. Elba Ramalho) - Forróçacana - O melhor forró do mundo (Ao vivo)
Zé Ramalho, Elba Ramalho - A Terceira Lâmina
Download SoundHound
The only App that can give you results through singing and humming search!
You can sing any song from this artist to help SoundHound users find it!