Wanda Sá
Wanda Maria Ferreira de Sá, also known as Wanda de Sah, is a renowned Brazilian bossa nova singer and guitarist, born on July 1, 1944. She began her musical journey at the age of 13 under the tutelage of Roberto Menescal, a prominent figure in the bossa nova genre. Sá made her professional debut in 1962 and gained recognition for her work with Sérgio Mendes in his group Brasil '65. She collaborated with notable artists such as Marcos Valle and Kátya Chamma and released her debut album "Vagamente" in 1964, featuring musicians like Francisco Tenório Júnior and Ugo Marotta.
Throughout her career, Wanda Sá has been associated with several influential projects, including recordings with Paul Desmond and João Donato. Her discography includes albums such as "Wanda Vagamente" (1964), "The Sergio Mendes Trio Introduces Wanda de Sah" (1965), and "Softly!" (1965). After marrying the celebrated Brazilian composer Edu Lobo in 1969, Sá took a hiatus from her career during the 1970s. She made a significant comeback in the 1990s and continued to perform and record, earning accolades as one of the last links to the original bossa nova movement.
In 2011, Sá performed in the United States for the first time since 1999, appearing with Marcos Valle at Birdland in New York City. Her legacy as a pivotal figure in Brazilian music has been acknowledged by major publications, with The Wall Street Journal describing her as "legendary" and National Public Radio referring to her as "one of Brazil's best-kept musical secrets."