Leny Andrade – born Leny de Andrade Lima on January 25, 1943, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – was a popular Latin and Brazilian jazz vocalist and musician. She began her musical journey by studying piano at the Brazilian Conservatory of Music before making her debut as a singer at the age of 15. Originally singing with Perminio Gonçalves’ orchestra, she began performing in clubs just as the bossa nova began increasing in popularity. She released her debut album, A Sensação, in 1961, which was followed by A Arte Maior de Leny Andrade (1963), Gemini V with Pery Ribeiro (1965), and Estamos Aí (1965). Due to her growing international popularity, she moved to Mexico in the mid-1960s and spent five years there before relocating to the US and then Europe. Often referred to as one of Brazil’s finest jazz vocals, Leny Andrade continued to release acclaimed albums such as Gemini V en Mexico with Pery Ribeiro (1966), Leny Andrade (1968), Gemini Cinco Anos Depois with Pery Ribeiro (1972), Alvoroço (1973), and Registro (1979). Her international fame led her to focus on Europe, where she recorded albums like Embraceable You (1991). Called the ‘Ella Fitzgerald of Brazil’ by American crooner Tony Bennett, Leny Andrade continued to release acclaimed albums such as Seja Você (2001), As Canções do Rei (2013), Iluminados – Leny Andrade Sings Ivan Lins & Vítor Martins (2014), Canta Fred Falcão: Bossa Nova (2018), and Alma Mía (2019). Leny Andrade died on July 24, 2023, at the age of 80. Her longtime friend, Brazilian singer Dóris Monteiro, died on the same day and they were both celebrated at a joint wake on July 25, 2023.
