Caetano Veloso

Now able to boast a career that has lasted for almost fifty years, Veloso has become an iconic presence in the Latin music scene, having won nine Latin Grammy Awards and two American Grammys, too. His stock as a national treasure wasn’t always quite so high, though; in the sixties, he was amongst the founders of the Tropicalisimo artistic movement, and his politically-charged lyrics and support of anti-government protests landed him in hot water with the authorities on a consistent basis. It led to him eventually leaving for London in 1972, after a string of legal troubles, and it was there that he began to forge his signature style of blending Brazilian folklore with tropical musical styles.

He moved back to Brazil in 1974, and has gradually reinforced his reputation as a powerful figure both musically and politically - his songs have dealt with topics including race relations, homelessness, poverty and the AIDS epidemic. He has released in excess of thirty studio records, and remains a prolific recording artist as well as a frequent live performer. In 2004, he recorded ‘A Foreign Sound’, which saw him take on American and British tracks including ‘Come As You Are’ by Nirvana and 'Love for Sale' by Cole Porter.