Amelinha

Origin

Fortaleza, CE

Also known as

Amélia Cláudia Garcia Collares

Genres

MPB, forró

Instruments

vocals

Biography

Amelinha is a renowned Brazilian singer and songwriter who emerged during the vibrant musical scene of the 1970s. Born in Fortaleza, she moved to São Paulo in 1970 to study communication and quickly became associated with the influential collective known as the "Pessoal do Ceará," alongside fellow artists such as Fagner, Belchior, and Ednardo. After starting her professional career in 1974 and touring with icons like Vinicius de Moraes and Toquinho, she released her debut album, Flor da Paisagem, in 1977 under Fagner's production, which immediately established her as a prominent revelation in MPB.

Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Amelinha achieved massive commercial success and nationwide fame. Her 1979 LP featured the smash hit "Frevo Mulher," composed by Zé Ramalho, which earned a gold record and eventually became a timeless classic of both forró and Brazilian popular music. She further solidified her star status in 1980 by taking second place at the Rede Globo MPB festival with the mega-hit "Foi Deus que fez você," selling over a million copies. Her career also crossed into television with memorable themes like "Mulher nova, bonita e carinhosa, faz o homem gemer sem sentir dor" for the miniseries Lampião e Maria Bonita.

After a temporary hiatus following her 1987 self-titled album, Amelinha returned strongly in the 1990s and 2000s, continuing to celebrate her roots. She participated in the Pessoal do Ceará reunion project and released tribute works such as Janelas do Brasil and De primeira grandeza: As canções de Belchior, keeping her deep connection to Northeastern folk and MPB alive. Alongside frequent collaborators like Zeca Baleiro, she remains an enduring and respected figure in Brazilian musical history.

Discography

• Flor da Paisagem (1977)
• Frevo Mulher (1979)
• Porta Secreta (1980)
• Mulher Nova, Bonita e Carinhosa Faz o Homem Gemer sem Sentir Dor (1982)
• Romance da Lua Lua (1983)
• Água e Luz (1984)
• Caminho Do Sol (1985)
• Chuva e Sol (1985)
• Mistérios do Amor (1987)
• Eles e Elas (1987)
• Só Forró (1994)
• Fruta Madura (1996)
• Amelinha (1998)
• Vento, Forró e Folia (2001)
• Ednardo, Amelinha & Belchior – Pessoal do Ceará (2002)
• Janelas Do Brasil (2011)
• Janelas do Brasil Ao Vivo (2013)
• De Primeira Grandeza - As Canções de Belchior (2017)
• Todo Mundo Vai Saber (2022)