Loalwa Braz

Loalwa Braz Vieira (3 June 1953 – 19 January 2017) was a Brazilian singer, best known for providing the lead vocals for the French-Brazilian recording act Kaoma from 1989 to 1999.

Her biggest success was Lambada in 1989, a direct cover of 1986 song "Chorando Se Foi" by Márcia Ferreira, which itself was a Portuguese version of the 1984 song "Llorando se fue" by Peruvian group Cuarteto Continental, which itself was an adaptation of the 1981 song by Los Kjarkas of the same name, which was composed by Ulises Hermosa and Gonzalo Hermosa.

Braz was fluent in four languages, and recorded songs in her native Portuguese, as well as in Spanish, French and English.

Biography

Braz was born in Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro, to a family of musicians: her father was an orchestra leader and her mother was a popular and classical pianist. Braz learned to play the piano at the age of four, and started singing at the age of 13. She lived in Paris from 1985, and in Geneva from 2010 until her death in 2017.

Braz grew up surrounded by the rhythms of Brazil, which shone through her songs. Her natural gifts were strengthened by hard work. Braz quickly obtained many awards, and started performing at Rio's most prestigious night clubs. Her talent gained her the recognition of Brazil's greatest pop artists Gilberto Gil, Tim Maia, Alcione, Maria Bethânia, Emílio Santiago, Gal Costa, and Caetano Veloso, who became her stage and recording co-workers from 1975 to 1985. She moved to Paris in 1985, after her success at the Palais des Sports, with the show "Brésil en Fête".

Braz appeared at major show business venues: Paradis Latin, Méridien (Paris), Olympia ('88 and '92), TLP Dejazet, New Morning, Zenith, Madison Square Garden (New York City), and the London Palladium and Waldorf Astoria (both London).