Elis Regina

Origin

Porto Alegre, RS

Also known as

Pimentinha, Elis Regina Carvalho Costa, Elis-cóptero

Years Active

1958–1982

Genres

MPB, bossa nova, samba, jazz, rock

Instruments

vocals

Biography

Elis Regina Carvalho Costa was a foundational figure in Brazilian music, widely regarded as one of the greatest vocalists the country ever produced. Born in Porto Alegre, she began her professional journey as a child on the radio before moving to the center of the Brazilian music industry in the 1960s. Her career was defined by her immense technical skill, dramatic stage presence, and a vocal range that allowed her to transition seamlessly between genres such as bossa nova, samba, jazz, and rock. She was a pivotal figure in the transition from the soft-spoken bossa nova era to the more robust and diverse MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) movement.

Her rise to superstardom was cemented in 1965 when she won a major televised music festival with an explosive performance of "Arrastão," composed by Edu Lobo and Vinícius de Moraes. Shortly after, she co-hosted the legendary television show 'O Fino da Bossa' alongside Jair Rodrigues, which showcased the elite of Brazilian talent. Throughout the 1970s, Elis released a series of landmark albums, most notably her 1974 collaboration with Antonio Carlos Jobim, titled 'Elis & Tom,' which remains a definitive masterpiece of the genre. Her stage shows, such as 'Falso Brilhante,' were known for their innovation and theatrical depth.

Beyond her solo success, Elis was instrumental in discovering and promoting a new generation of Brazilian songwriters, bringing national fame to artists like Milton Nascimento, João Bosco, Ivan Lins, and Belchior. She was also a courageous voice during the years of the military dictatorship, advocating for political amnesty and the rights of artists. Her sudden death in 1982 at the age of 36 caused a nationwide outpouring of grief, but her legacy continues to thrive through her vast discography and the musical careers of her children, including Maria Rita and Pedro Mariano.

Discography

• Elis Regina com Orquestra de Severino Filho – Viva a Brotolândia (1961)
• Poema de Amor (1962)
• Ellis Regina (1963)
• O Bem Do Amor (1963)
• Elis Regina e Zimbo Trio – O Fino do Fino ("Ao Vivo", no Teatro Record) (1965)
• Elis Regina e Jair Rodrigues – 2 na Bossa (1965)
• Samba, Eu Canto Assim (1965)
• Elis Regina & Jair Rodrigues – Dois na Bossa Número 2 (1966)
• Elis (1966)
• Elis Regina & Jair Rodrigues – Dois na Bossa Número 3 (1967)
• Elis Especial (1968)
• Elis Regina In London (1969)
• Elis Regina & Toots Thielemans – Elis & Toots (1969)
• Como & Porque (1969)
• Aquarela Do Brasil (1969)
• ...Em Pleno Verão (1970)
• Show Elis / Miele (1970)
• Ela (1971)
• Elis (1972)
• Elis (1973)
• Elis & Tom (1974)
• Elis (1974)
• Falso Brilhante (1976)
• Elis (1977)
• Transversal Do Tempo (1978)
• Elis Especial (1979)
• Elis, Essa Mulher (1979)
• Saudade Do Brasil (1980)
• Elis (1980)
• Elis por Ela (1980)
• 2 É Demais (1980)
• 13th Montreux Jazz Festival (1982)
• Trem Azul (1982)
• Luz das Estrelas (1984)
• Para Lennon e McCartney (1984)
• Ciclos 85 (1985)
• Saudade Do Brasil (Vol. 1) (1988)
• Saudade Do Brasil (Vol. 2) (1988)
• Nada Sera Como Antes (1990)
• No Fino da Bossa - Ao Vivo - Volume 1 - Gravações Originais (1994)
• No Fino da Bossa - Ao Vivo - Volume 2 - Gravações Originais (1994)
• No Fino da Bossa - Ao Vivo - Volume 3 - Gravações Originais (1994)
• Elis e Ivan (1994)
• Elis Ao Vivo (1995)
• Performance (1996)
• Eternamente Elis, Vol. 1 (1996)
• Eternamente Elis, Vol. 2 (1996)
• Grandes mestres da MPB, Vol. 1 (1997)
• Elis Vive (1998)
• João Bosco, Gilberto Gil, os Novos Baianos, Timbalada, Netinho, Banda Cheiro do Amor, Banda Eva, Elis Regina, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Marina Lima, Zizi Possi, Gal Costa, Maria Bethânia – Colors Brazil - Masters Of The Brazilian Music (1998)
• Preferencia Nacional (1998)
• Os Sonhos Mais Lindos (2000)
• Montreux Jazz Festival: Gravações Inéditas (2009)
• Um Dia (2012)
• Esse Mundo É Meu [1965 a 1968] (2012)
• Elis, A Musical (2013)
• Elis 70 Anos (2015)
• Elis, essa saudade (2021)
• Tu Serás (2022)
• Dá sorte (2023)
• Montreux Jazz Festival (Ao Vivo) (2025)
• Mesmo de Mentira (2025)
• Elis (Mixagem 2026) (2026)