Selma Reis

Origin

São Gonçalo, RJ

Also known as

Selma Reis Galvão

Genres

MPB, romantic ballad

Instruments

vocals

Biography

Selma Reis was a celebrated Brazilian singer and actress, recognized for her powerful, deep vocal timbre and emotional delivery of romantic popular songs. Born in São Gonçalo, she developed an early connection to music through her family's love for serenades, later refining her vocal technique during a multi-year stay in Nantes, France. Over her career, she released eleven albums, collaborating with notable MPB figures such as Sueli Costa, Geraldo Azevedo, and Paulo César Pinheiro, while also recording in London.

Alongside her thriving musical trajectory, Selma established a prominent career in television and theater. She acted in numerous Rede Globo telenovelas and miniseries, including Caminho das Índias, Páginas da Vida, and Presença de Anita, in addition to taking the stage in musical theater productions like Chicago. Her cultural footprint extended to the carnival scene as well, marked by her active participation in the Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel samba school during the 1990s.

Selma passed away in Teresópolis in December 2015, leaving behind a rich legacy in both Brazilian popular music and the dramatic arts. Her classic recordings, characterized by dramatic phrasing and broad vocal range, continue to be remembered as milestones of 1980s and 1990s MPB. She remains a beloved figure among fans of romantic Brazilian balladry and cultural arts.

Discography

• Selma Reis (1990)
• O que É o Amor (1990)
• Só Dói Quando Eu Rio (1991)
• Emoções Suburbanas (1991)
• Selma Reis (1993)
• Se Bastasse uma Canção (1994)
• Todo Sentimento (1995)
• Canta Gonzaga Jr. : Achados e Perdidos (1996)
• Achados e Perdidos: Selma Reis canta Gonzaga Jr. (1996)
• The Air Of Havana (1999)
• Ares de Havana (1999)
• Cauby Peixoto, Selma Reis – Vozes (2003)
• Sagrado (2007)
• Minha Homenagem ao Poeta da Voz (2009)
• Maria Mãe de Jesus (2015)