Loalwa Braz facts for kids

Loalwa Braz Vieira (born June 3, 1953 – died January 19, 2017) was a talented singer and musician from Brazil. She was most famous for being the lead singer of the French-Brazilian band Kaoma. In 1989, she sang the main vocals for their huge worldwide hit song, "Lambada".

Loalwa could speak four languages. She recorded songs in her native Portuguese, as well as in Spanish, French, and English.

Loalwa Braz's Early Life and Music Journey

Loalwa Braz was born in Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She came from a family of musicians. Her father led an orchestra, and her mother was a pianist.

Loalwa started playing the piano when she was just four years old. She began singing at the age of 13. Her home was always filled with Brazilian rhythms, which greatly influenced her music.

Becoming a Star in Brazil

Loalwa worked hard to develop her natural musical gifts. She quickly won many awards for her singing. Soon, she was performing in the most famous nightclubs in Rio.

Her talent was recognized by Brazil's biggest pop artists. Singers like Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso worked with her. From 1975 to 1985, she performed and recorded with these famous musicians.

In 1985, Loalwa moved to Paris, France. This move happened after she had a very successful show called “Brésil en Fête” at the Palais des Sports.

Worldwide Success with Lambada

Loalwa Braz performed in major venues around the world. These included the Olympia in Paris, Madison Square Garden in New York City, and the London Palladium.

In 1989, she became the voice of the song “Lambada” for the band Kaoma. This song became a massive hit all over the world. It was originally composed by Ulysses Hermosa, leader of the Bolivian folk group 'Los Kjarkas'. The success of “Lambada” also made Latin music more popular globally.

Music for Movies and Other Songs

Loalwa Braz also composed and sang two songs for a French movie soundtrack. She even performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra for another French film.

Many songs became important in her career. These include “Chorando Se Foi” (which became “Lambada”), “Tago Mago”, and “Mélodie D’Amour”. She also adapted Stevie Wonder's song “Another Star” into Portuguese, calling it “Outro Lugar”. This showed her amazing musical skills.

In 2003, she received a special silver medal (Prix Thorlet) from the Arts, Sciences and Literature French Academy. She released a solo album in 2006. Later, she became an ambassador for a sports promotion association.

Later Life and Passing

Loalwa Braz lived in Paris starting in 1985. From 2010 until her death, she lived in Geneva.

On January 19, 2017, Loalwa Braz passed away at the age of 63. Her body was found in a burnt car in Saquarema, Brazil. Police investigated her death. They detained three men as suspects, stating the crime was linked to a robbery.

Discography

• Brésil (1989)
• Recomeçar (2003)
• Ensolarado (2011)
• Worldbeat (1989)
• Tribal-Pursuit (1991)
• A La Media Noche (1998)

See also

In Spanish: Loalwa Braz para niños