1964

Virgínia Rodrigues was discovered by Caetano Veloso during a Olodum theater rehearsal in Salvador, in 1997. After years of singing in both catholic and protestant church choirs, she had been invited by the director Márcio Meireles to participate in the piece entitled "Bye Bye Pelô", where Caetano set eyes on her for the very first time. Coming from humble origins, Virgínia imbues her music with popular and lyrical references to the music that surrounded her throughout her childhood and adolescence. The result is that her singing style floats between the erudite and the popular. Her first album was produced by Celso Fonseca, with arrangements by Eduardo Souto Neto. The songs were chosen by Virgínia, Caetano and Celso Fonseca, and included numbers such as Dorival Caymmi’s "Noite de Temporal", as well as the participation of Djavan, Gilberto Gil and Milton Nascimento. That album, named "Sol Negro", got rave reviews in the United States and Europe, from newspapers like the New York Times and Le Monde, and magazines like Rolling Stone. The ex-manicurist from a Salvador favela accomplished two U.S. tours, numerous shows in Europe and live interviews on American television by Davis Byrne, all within the period of one year. Vírginia’s first album was released on Cris Blackwell’s Rykodisc label in the U.S., Europe and Japan - the same label responsible for the popularity of household names such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and U2. In her new album, "Nós", Virgínia pays tribute to Salvador’s Afro carnival clubs. Her sophisticated and exquisite singing style interprets the music of Ilê Aiyê, Olodum, Timbalada, Ara Ketu and Afreketê. The New York Times has described her as one of the most impressive singers to appear in Brazil in recent years.