Maria Bethânia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maria Bethânia
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Maria Bethânia in 2014
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Maria Bethânia Viana Teles Veloso
18 June 1946 Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil
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| Years active | 1965–present |
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| Relatives | Caetano Veloso (brother) |
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Maria Bethânia Viana Teles Veloso is a famous Brazilian singer and songwriter. She was born on June 18, 1946, in Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil. Maria Bethânia started her music career in Rio de Janeiro in 1964. Many people call her "The Queen of Brazilian Music."
Her first big hit was the song "Carcará" in 1965. This song helped her become a star across Brazil. Maria Bethânia is the sister of the well-known singer Caetano Veloso. She has released 50 studio albums during her 47-year career. She is one of Brazil's top 10 best-selling music artists. Maria Bethânia has sold over 26 million records. In 2012, Rolling Stone Brasil magazine named her the fifth-greatest voice in Brazilian music.
Contents
Early Life and First Performances
Maria Bethânia was the sixth of eight children. Her father, José Telles Veloso, was a government official. Her mother, Claudionor Viana Telles Veloso, known as Dona Canô, was a housewife.
Her brother, Caetano Veloso, chose her name. It came from a popular song called "Maria Bethânia." As a child, she dreamed of becoming an actress. Music was always a big part of her family's home.
Moving to Salvador
When Maria Bethânia was 13, her family moved to Salvador, Bahia. This move allowed her to explore the city's artistic side. She started visiting theaters and meeting creative people. At 16, her brother Caetano asked her to sing for a film. She said no at first.
However, the film's director, Álvaro Guimarães, liked her voice. He invited her to perform in a musical in 1963. This time, Maria Bethânia said yes. It was her first time singing on stage for an audience. She opened the play by singing a samba song.
Starting with Other Artists
In the same year, Maria Bethânia met singers Gilberto Gil and Gal Costa. Caetano Veloso was asked to create a music show. It was for the opening of the Teatro Vila Velha. The four artists worked together. In 1964, they put on a show called Nós, por exemplo (We, for example).
The show was a big success. They performed it again later with singer-songwriter Tom Zé. That same year, the group created another show. It was called Nova Bossa Velha e Velha Bossa Nova (New Old Bossa and Old New Bossa). Also in 1964, Maria Bethânia performed her own musical. It was called Mora na Filosofia (Lives in Philosophy).
She continued performing with her brother, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, and Tom Zé. During one of these shows, bossa nova musician Nara Leão offered her a chance. Nara asked Maria Bethânia to take her place in a show series. This series was called "Opinião."
Music Career Highlights
Maria Bethânia released her first single, "Carcará," in 1965. It was a protest song. After this song, she returned to Bahia from Rio de Janeiro. She had been in Rio for college. This was a short visit, as she soon began performing in nightclubs across Brazil.
The song "Carcará" also led to a record deal. An RCA Records representative offered her a contract. Maria Bethânia changed record labels several times in the 1970s. In 1973, she released Drama, Luz Da Noite. This album featured traditional Brazilian songs. It also included elements from literature.
Gold Albums and New Directions
In 1977, Maria Bethânia went on tour. She also released a gold-certified album. Both were named Pássaro da Manhã. A year later, she released Álibi. This album also went gold. It sold over a million copies. By the late 1970s, Maria Bethânia's music style changed. She moved away from the Tropicalismo music. This style was played by her friends, like Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil.
Maria Bethânia continued to record and perform in the 1980s and 1990s. Her 1993 album, As Canções Que Você Fez Para Mim, was very popular. It became the most successful album in Brazil that year.
Doces Bárbaros and Documentaries
In 1976, she released a live album with Doces Bárbaros. This was a Música popular brasileira supergroup. The group included Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Maria Bethânia, and Gal Costa. They are four of the biggest names in Brazilian music history. A documentary film was made about the band in 1977. In 1994, they performed a tribute concert. It honored the Mangueira school of samba.
A French filmmaker, Georges Gachot, made a documentary about her. It was called "Musica é perfume." This film was shown all over the world. In 2008, she recorded an album with Cuban singer Omara Portuondo. They also released a live DVD.
In 2015, her album Meus Quintais was nominated for an award. It was for the Latin Grammy Award for Best MPB Album.
Personal Life
Maria Bethânia moved to Rio de Janeiro alone when she was 17. She still lives there today. She is a very private person. She is not often seen at social events. She lives in a quiet neighborhood. It is close to nature, away from the busy city. Maria Bethânia does not have children. She follows Brazilian religions of African origin.
See also
- List of best-selling Latin music artists
Images for kids
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Maria Bethânia in 2014
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Maria Bethânia performing in the play "Opinião," 1965.
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Maria Bethânia parades for Mangueira at the carnival of 2016.
