Leila Pinheiro

Origin

Belém, PA

Years Active

1980

Genres

bossa nova, MPB, samba

Instruments

vocals, piano

Biography

Leila Pinheiro is a renowned Brazilian singer, songwriter, and pianist born in Belém. She began her formal piano studies at a young age and later honed her craft under the guidance of local musician Guilherme Coutinho before moving to Rio de Janeiro in the early 1980s to pursue a professional music career. Her breakthrough came in 1985 when she won the revelation singer award at TV Globo's Festival dos Festivais performing the hit song "Verde". This success paved the way for acclaimed albums and international recognition, particularly in genres like bossa nova and MPB.

Throughout her illustrious career, Pinheiro has collaborated with numerous legendary figures in Brazilian music, including Roberto Menescal, Ivan Lins, and Tom Jobim. Her landmark 1989 album Bênção Bossa Nova, produced by Menescal for the Japanese market, achieved unprecedented commercial success for the genre and cemented her reputation as a leading voice of bossa nova. She has consistently honored Brazilian music's rich heritage through tribute albums and projects dedicated to masters such as Aldir Blanc, Guinga, and Gonzaguinha.

In addition to her studio recordings and live albums, Pinheiro has extensively toured Brazil, the United States, Europe, Japan, and South Korea, performing at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park. Her artistic versatility is further demonstrated through her interpretations of diverse Brazilian artists, ranging from bossa nova pioneers to contemporary songwriters, securing her enduring legacy in Brazilian popular culture alongside peers like Bebel Gilberto and Francis Hime.

Discography

• Leila Pinheiro (1983)
• Olho Nu (1986)
• Alma (1988)
• Bênção, Bossa Nova (1989)
• Edição Limitada 2 por 1 (1989)
• Outras Caras (1991)
• Serra do Luar Música Incidental Coração Tranquilo (1991)
• Coisas Do Brasil (1993)
• Isso É Bossa Nova (1994)
• Catavento e Girassol (1996)
• Na Ponta da Lingua (1998)
• Reencontro (2000)
• Mais Coisas Do Brasil (2001)
• Nos Horizontes do Mundo (2004)
• Nova Bis (2005)
• Nos Horizontes do Mundo Ao Vivo (2007)
• Leila Pinheiro & Roberto Menescal – Agarradinhos (2007)
• Oscar Castro-Neves With Special Guests Airto Moreira And Leila Pinheiro Featuring Marco Bosco (4), Paulo Calasans And Marcelo Mariano – Live At Blue Note Tokyo (2009)
• Leila Pinheiro e Eduardo Gudin – Pra Iluminar (2009)
• Meu Segredo Mais Sincero (2010)
• Raiz (2011)
• Leila Pinheiro & Nelson Faria – Céu e Mar (2012)
• Vamos Partir pro Mundo - A Música de Antonio Adolfo e Tibério Gaspar (2020)
• Rodrigo Santos, Leila Pinheiro, Roberto Menescal – Faz Parte do Meu Show, Cazuza em Bossa (2020)
• Melhor que Seja Rara (2020)
• Cenas de um Amor (2020)
• Couvert Artístico JB FM (2022)
• Leila Pinheiro, Ricardo Bacelar – Donato (2024)