Bebel Gilberto

Isabel “Bebel” Buarque de Hollanda Gilberto de Oliveira was born on May 12, 1966, in New York City, to renowned Brazilian musicians João Gilberto and Miúcha. Her upbringing was immersed in music, providing early exposure to artists such as Caetano Veloso, David Byrne, and Stan Getz. Gilberto began performing at a young age in Rio de Janeiro, making her recording debut on her mother’s album, Miúcha & Antônio Carlos Jobim, in 1977. At the age of seven, she performed at Carnegie Hall with her mother and Stan Getz, marking an early milestone in her career. Her parents’ separation led to her splitting time between Rio de Janeiro and New York, shaping her diverse musical influences.

Gilberto’s professional solo career began in 1986 with a self-titled EP, which included the track “Preciso dizer que te amo,” a collaboration with Cazuza and Dé Palmeira. She moved to Manhattan in 1991, continuing to divide her time between the United States and Brazil. Throughout the 1990s, Gilberto collaborated with various artists and projects, including Red Hot + Rio, working with musicians like Everything but the Girl, Maxwell, and George Michael. She also contributed to Towa Tei’s album Future Listening!, singing on “Technova” and “Batucada,” and collaborated with Mike Patton’s Peeping Tom on the song “Caipirinha.”

Her breakthrough came with the release of her electronic bossa nova album, Tanto Tempo, in 2000. This album was critically acclaimed and enjoyed significant popularity in clubs worldwide, establishing her as one of the best-selling Brazilian artists in the U.S. since the 1960s. She continued to refine her sound with subsequent albums, including Bebel Gilberto (2004), which showcased a more acoustic lounge style, and Momento (2007), a fusion of her previous electronic and acoustic approaches. Her 2009 album, All in One, featured collaborations with producers like Mark Ronson and John King and was her least electronic-infused work to date. Gilberto has sold over 2.5 million records since 2000, with her music appearing in film soundtracks and television series such as Sex and the City, Six Feet Under, and Nip/Tuck. In 2011, she voiced Eva in the animated film Rio and later reprised the role in Rio 2 (2014). Her song “Tudo” was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Brazilian Song.