Sandra De Sá

Sandra de Sá, born Sandra Cristina Malafaia Frederico de Sá on August 27, 1955, in Rio de Janeiro, is a Brazilian singer-songwriter and instrumentalist whose vast catalog encompasses MPB, samba, soul, pop, and R&B. Raised in the Pilares neighborhood, her musical talent was influenced by her father, a drummer. Her musical journey began in her adolescence when she attended samba, soul, and gafieira dances. She taught herself to play the guitar and started composing songs. Encouraged by her parents, she performed in samba schools and soon earned the title "Queen of Brazilian Soul." Often compared to Tim Maia, Sandra shared his soulful style and deep voice, and they frequently performed together. Her breakthrough came in 1980 with the song "Demônio Colorido," the title track from her studio debut. She signed with RGE Records and released several successful albums throughout the 1980s, including her self-titled 1986 LP, which featured hits like "Retratos e Canções," "Joga Fora no Lixo," and "Solidão." She became a prominent figure in Brazilian music, known for her socially conscious lyrics. In the 1990s, Sandra de Sá collaborated with artists such as Djavan, Marina Lima, and Carlinhos Brown, and continued to release hits like "Sozinha" and "Soul de Verão" from her 1996 album, A Lua Sabe Quem Eu Sou. She coined the term "Música Preta Brasileira" to highlight the African roots of Brazilian music, a term that served as the title of her 2003 live album. She has also made significant contributions to social causes and cultural projects, such as supporting the Sociedade Viva Cazuza and creating the Natal + Colorido initiative with actress Danielle Suzuki. Over the following decades, she continued to showcase her deep ties to her African roots on the LP AfricaNatividade - Cheiro de Brasil (2010) and participated in the first season of the reality singing competition The Masked Singer Brasil in 2021.