1965

Born into a middle-class family from Salvador, Daniela Mercury decided to be a singer when she was thirteen, inspired by Elis Regina. At age sixteen, she started singing in bars, with a repertoire essentially of Brazilian Popular Music standards, and in 1988 Daniela started doing backing vocals for Gilberto Gil. She joined the group Companhia Clic and, in 1991, initiated a solo career, making her first album. The following year, Daniela’s second release confirmed her position as the main female singer of axé music, thanks to the resounding success of "Swing da Cor" (Luciano Gomes). Her shows normally attract large crowds, and during carnival she normally performs on the musical floats (trios elétricos). She has recorded other CDs since, mostly of dance music, but with some songs by songwriters who work outside the realm of axé music, like Herbert Vianna. Among her most successful songs are "O Canto da Cidade" (with Tote Gira), "À Primeira Vista" (Chico César), "Todo Canto Alegre" and "Rapunzel" (both by Carlinhos Brown).