Ivan Lins

• Genre: Brazilian Pop

About

Ivan Lins is the kind of musical prodigy you find by the dozens in Brazil; a self-taught pianist, the guy was getting his degree in engineering when he started performing in music festivals. He gained some attention in the late 1960s, but it wasn't until Elis Regina recorded his composition "Madalena" that Lins really arrived. He had a string of hits in the '70s, including "O Amor E o Meu Pais," "Desesperar Jamais" and "Abre Alas." He went on to compose abroad for artists like George Benson and Barbra Streisand, and has become one of Brazil's most recorded composers whose albums are regularly nominated for both Grammy Awards and Latin Grammy Awards.

- Sarah Bardeen