Lani Hall

Origin

Chicago, Illinois

Also known as

Leilani Hall Alpert, Lani Hall Alpert

Years Active

1965–present

Genres

latin, latin pop, contemporary jazz, crossover jazz, smooth jazz, brazilian, soft rock, jazz instrument, western european, pop, jazz, bossa nova, vocal

Instruments

vocals

Biography

Leilani "Lani" Hall Alpert (born November 6, 1945) is an American singer who first gained prominence as the lead vocalist for Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 from 1966 to 1971. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Hall's early life was marked by a troubled home environment, leading her to find solace and expression in singing. She was discovered by Sérgio Mendes in 1965 while performing at a coffee shop in Chicago, and he invited her to join his newly forming group, Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66.

With Brasil '66, Hall became the recognizable voice behind hits like "Mas Que Nada," "The Look of Love," and "Fool on the Hill." Despite not speaking Portuguese, she sang in the language phonetically, introducing Brazilian music to a global audience. During her tenure with the group, she also began writing lyrics, contributing to many of the band's songs. In 1971, Hall left Brasil '66 to pursue a solo career, releasing her debut album, Sun Down Lady, in 1972, produced by her future husband, Herb Alpert. She went on to release several more solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and in 1983, she sang the theme song for the James Bond film *Never Say Never Again*.

Hall has achieved significant recognition for her work, winning her first Grammy Award in 1986 for Best Latin Pop Performance for her album *Es Fácil Amar*. She later received a second Grammy Award in 2013 as a producer for Herb Alpert's album *Steppin' Out*. Hall has recorded over 22 albums in three different languages and has collaborated extensively with Herb Alpert, releasing several albums together. Beyond her music career, Hall is also an author, having published a collection of short stories and memoirs titled *Emotional Memoirs & Short Stories*.

Discography

• Sun Down Lady (1972)
• Herb Alpert And The T.J.B. Featuring Lani Hall – Save The Sunlight (1974)
• Hello It's Me (1975)
• Sweet Bird (1976)
• Double Or Nothing (1978)
• Double Or Nothing (1979)
• Blush (1980)
• A Brazileira (1981)
• Albany Park (1982)
• Lani (1982)
• Lani Hall (1984)
• Es Fácil Amar (1985)
• Brasil Nativo (1998)
• Herb Alpert & Lani Hall – Anything Goes (2009)
• Herb Alpert & Lani Hall – I Feel You (2011)
• Herb Alpert Featuring Lani Hall – Steppin' Out (2013)
• Emotional Memoirs & Short Stories (2014)
• Lani Hall Feat. Herb Alpert – Seasons Of Love (2022)
• Brasil Nativo Excerpts