Diana Pequeno

Origin

Salvador, BA

Years Active

1977–2001

Genres

MPB, folk music, brazilian regional music

Instruments

vocals

Biography

Diana Pequeno is a Brazilian singer and songwriter born in Salvador, Bahia. Initially a student of electrical engineering at the Federal University of Bahia, she emerged in the late 1970s as a prominent voice in university circuits, blending Brazilian folk traditions, romantic ballads, and medieval, oriental, and African influences. Signed by RCA-Victor at just nineteen, she released her critically acclaimed self-titled debut album in 1978, featuring adaptations of traditional themes and a version of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind". Over the following years, she built a reputation for distinctive interpretations of MPB and regional Brazilian music, collaborating with artists such as Marlui Miranda and participating in major events like the Projeto Pixinguinha and the historic Águas Claras Festival.

Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Diana released several notable albums, including Eterno Como Areia, Sinal de Amor, and Sentimento Meu, the latter of which was even launched in Japan following her performance at the Yamaha Festival. She worked with esteemed instrumentalists and arrangers such as César Camargo Mariano, Almir Sater, and Papete, and recorded compositions by prominent figures like Elomar, Beto Guedes, and Lô Borges. Her artistic direction consistently combined regional Brazilian textures with acoustic folk sensibilities, making her a unique figure in the national musical landscape.

Seeking independence from the mainstream music industry, Diana eventually stepped away from major record labels after releasing her pop-infused album O Mistério das Estrelas in 1985. She returned to her academic studies, completed her engineering degree, and later founded her own independent label, Aquarius, through which she released the cult album Mistérios in 1989. After a lengthy hiatus, she continued to explore her diverse musical interests, culminating in the 2001 release of Cantigas through Rádio MEC, cementing her legacy as a versatile and uncompromising artist in Brazilian popular music.

Discography

• Diana Pequeno (1978)
• Eterno Como Areia (1979)
• Sinal de Amor (1981)
• Sentimento Meu (1982)
• Super 3 (1983)
• O Mistério das Estrelas (1985)
• Serei Teu Bem (You've Got A Friend) (1985)
• Mistérios (1989)
• Cantigas (2001)
• Alma Moura (2016)
• Alma Calma (2016)
• Alma Gêmea (2016)
• Signo (2017)
• Xamã (2017)
• Jardim Secreto (2018)