Elis Regina Carvalho Costa, known simply as Elis Regina (Portuguese pronunciation: [eˈlis ʁeˈʒinɐ]; March 17, 1945 – January 19, 1982; was an important singer of Brazilian popular music. She became nationally renowned in 1965, after singing Arrastão (composed by Edu Lobo and Vinícius de Moraes) in the first edition of TV Excelsior festival song contest, and soon joined O Fino da Bossa, a television program on TV Record. Elis was noted for her perfect vocalization, as well as for her personal interpretation and outstanding performances in shows. She recorded several successful compositions, such as Upa Neguinho (E. Lobo and Gianfrancesco Guarnieri), Madalena (Ivan Lins), Casa no Campo (Sá e Guarabira), Águas de Março (Tom Jobim), Atrás da porta (Chico Buarque), O bêbado e a equilibrista (Aldir Blanc and João Bosco), Conversando no bar (Milton Nascimento), etc. Her premature death, at the age of 36, shocked Brazil. Elis Regina is widely regarded as the best Brazilian singer of all times by many critics, musicians, and commentators.
