Ivete Sangalo

Ivete Sangalo was born in Juazeiro, Bahia, where she spent her whole childhood. She started her singing career in events at school and then started singing at bars. Soon, she started to receive some attention and signed with Sony Music.

In 1993, Sony decided to reform the axé group Banda Eva and she was chosen as the lead singer. Her live album with the band, Banda Eva Ao Vivo, was their best-selling album, selling over a million copies. In 1997 she decided to start a solo career and in 1999 she released her first self-titled album. With lots of upbeat Bahian rhythms and axé, the album received gold and platinum certification. The following year she released another album, Beat Beleza, which also achieved platinum status.

In 2000 she released the album Festa (Party), whose title track was another major success. The single was very popular and the album got platinum certification. "Festa" was her biggest hit single up to that point and the video also received huge airplay. "Festa" ended up being the most popular song of 2001 in Brazil. Its music video featured over 20 cameo appearances by Brazilian celebrities. In 2002, she released the album Se Eu Não te Amasse Tanto Assim (If I Didn't Love You So Much), titled after her big hit that reached the first position in the singles chart. The album, which features a duet with American singer Brian McKnight, didn't sell as much as her previous albums, but was still a hit. Following Se Eu Não te Amasse Tanto Assim, she released Clube Carnavalesco Inocentes Em Progresso in 2003. It was the lowest-selling solo album of her career but it still managed to receive gold certification.

Ivete Sangalo is immensely popular in Salvador; nobody can imagine carnival in Salvador without Ivete. She is by far the most renowned “Bahiana” (person from Bahia) at this date and spends a lot of time in Salvador where she owns a beautiful apartment.