A Festa

Background:

Brazilian singer Maria Rita, daughter of the legendary vocalist Elis Regina (born in 1945, died in 1982) and famed pianist/arranger César Camargo Mariano, was shot to international fame thanks to her debut album, “Maria Rita” (2003). Producing the massive hits “A Festa” and “Cara Valente,” the album won the talented singer two Latin Grammy Awards in 2004. She picked up her next Latin Grammy Award in 2006 for her second album “Segundo” (2005). Rita also sang duet with Milton Nascimento and Jorge Drexler on “Tristesse” and “Soledad,” respectively.

Rita married Vinícius Baldini from 2003 to 2004. She is the mother of a four-year-old boy, Antônio.

Mother of 1

Childhood and Family:

Maria Rita Camargo Mariano was born on September 9, 1977, in São Paulo, Brazil. Her father, César Camargo Mariano, is one of the major arrangers, producers and pianist in Brazil and hr mother is the late Brazilian singing legend Elis Regina. She was named after the family friend and noted Brazilian rocker Rita Lee. Her siblings are Pedro Mariano, Marcelo Mariano and João Marcelo Bôscoli. Maria studied Latin American studies and communications at New York University.

Maria married Vinícius Baldini in 2003 and gave birth to her first child, Antônio, on July 4, 2004. Her marriage also ended in 2004.

Segundo

Career:

Coming from a family with strong musical background, Maria Rita knew that she wanted to become a singer since age 14, but did not launch a professional career until age 24. A one-time journalist at a magazine for adolescents, she broke into the music industry by releasing the single “A Festa/The Party,” which was written by Milton Nascimento, a Brazilian singer/songwriter whose career was launched by Rita's mother. The song was a huge hit in Brazil.

A full-length album, “Maria Rita,” followed on September 10, 2003. After enjoying victory in Brazil, in which it received platinum certification, the album was released internationally in 2004 and went on to become a worldwide hit. By 2004, “Maria Rita” had won two Latin Grammy for Best New Artist and Best MPB Album and established its singer as an international star. In addition to “A Festa,” the album spawned another big hit, “Cara Valente/Brave Face.”

On the height of the album's megahit attainment, Rita released a similarly self-titled DVD that featured her live performance at Bourbon Street in São Paulo in 2004. Her second album, “Segundo,” hit the music stores in 2005. It won a Latin Grammy for Best MPB Album at the 7th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in 2006.

In 2007, Rita, whose role models include Ella Fitzgerald in addition to her own mother, released “Samba Meu” under Wea International.

Rita has also collaborated with other artists. She and Milton Nascimento sang the Latin Grammy-winning duet “Tristesse” (2003), which was included in Nascimento's CD “Pieta.” Besides, she appeared with Uruguayan 2004 Grammy Award winner Jorge Drexler on his CD “12” singing a duet on “Soledad.”

Awards:

• Latin Grammy: Best MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) Album, “Segundo,” 2006

• Latin Grammy: Best New Artist, “Maria Rita,” 2004

• Latin Grammy: Best MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) Album, “Maria Rita,” 2004