Gisa Nogueira

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

Adalgisa Maria Nogueira Machado

Years active

1971–2012

Genres

samba, mpb

Instruments

vocals

Biography

Gisa Nogueira, born Adalgisa Maria Nogueira Machado on December 15, 1938, is a Brazilian singer and composer deeply rooted in the samba tradition. Raised in the Méier neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, she comes from a musically inclined family. Her father, João Batista Nogueira, was a lawyer and a respected guitarist, even lauded by Pixinguinha. Her mother, Dona Neuza, was an amateur singer, and her brother, João Nogueira, became a renowned singer and composer in his own right. Gisa is also the mother of singer Didu Nogueira, continuing the family's musical legacy.

Nogueira's musical journey began to gain traction in the 1970s. In 1971, Clara Nunes recorded "Meu Lema," a collaboration between Gisa and her brother João. She joined the composer's wing of the Portela samba school in 1974. Her debut album, "Saldo Positivo," was released in 1978, featuring entirely self-penned songs and a duet with João Nogueira on the title track. The album also included "Mandamento," which Celeste recorded in the same year. Gisa's compositions have been recorded by other notable artists such as Beth Carvalho and Elza Soares.

Throughout her career, Gisa Nogueira has been a consistent contributor to Brazilian popular music, particularly samba. She participated in the "Projeto Pixinguinha" tour in 1980 alongside Dona Ivone Lara and Leci Brandão. In 2012, she was featured in the "Samba Book – João Nogueira" project, released on CD, DVD, and Blu-ray. Despite not always prioritizing a full-time career due to family responsibilities, her passion for composing and singing has left a significant mark on Brazilian music, often collaborating with her brother João Nogueira and her son Didu Nogueira.