Cybele Ribeiro de Sá Leite Freire

Origin

Ibirataia, BA

Also known as

Cybele

Years active

1964–2014

Genres

MPB, bossa nova

Instruments

vocals

Biography

Cybele Ribeiro de Sá Leite Freire, known mononymously as Cybele, was a prominent Brazilian singer who rose to fame as a founding member of the influential vocal group Quarteto em Cy. Born in Ibirataia, Bahia, she was one of four sisters who, driven by their shared passion for music, formed the quartet in the early 1960s. Initially known as "As Baianinhas," the group was later renamed Quarteto em Cy with the encouragement of the renowned poet Vinicius de Moraes. Their early work included contributing to the soundtrack of the film "Sol Sobre a Lama" in 1963, and their official debut followed in 1964.

Cybele's career with Quarteto em Cy was marked by significant national and international recognition. The group's harmonious blend of voices and their interpretations of bossa nova and MPB classics garnered widespread acclaim. In 1967, Cybele briefly left the quartet to form a duo with her sister Cynara, and together they achieved a notable success by performing "Sabiá" at the 3rd Festival da Canção in 1968. She later rejoined Quarteto em Cy in 1980, continuing to be an integral part of the group until 2013.

Beyond her work with the quartet, Cybele also had a solo career and was part of the Rede Globo choir. Her contributions to Brazilian music were substantial, and she is remembered for her distinctive vocal presence within Quarteto em Cy, an ensemble that remains a significant pillar of the MPB landscape. Cybele passed away in Rio de Janeiro on August 21, 2014, at the age of 74, leaving behind a rich musical legacy.