Associated with American music since the '50s when she was one of the most popular artists of Rádio Nacional, the importance of Lenita Bruno in bossa nova resides in the fact that she was the first interpreter to record "Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar," "Por Toda a Minha Vida," "Sem Você," and "Soneto da Separação" on her album Por Toda a Minha Vida (1959). Bruno started her artistic career in novice shows at the Rádio Nacional and Rádio Cruzeiro do Sul, having won several of them. Her first contract was signed with Rádio Mayrink Veiga in 1946, where she performed in duet with Dick Farney on his show. Having specialized in a pop/jazz repertory sung in English, Bruno had success in that period (extended to the early '50s on Rádio Nacional) with songs like "Always" (Irving Berlin), "Tonight" (Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim), and "Someone to Watch Over Me" (George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin), along with some operettas. Her first album was recorded in 1952, with "Um Domingo no Jardim de Allah" and "Enquanto Houver" (both by Lírio Panicali/Evaldo Rui). Through her husband, conductor Leo Peracchi (who orchestrated the play Orfeu da Conceição), Bruno made contact with Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes in 1957. In 1959, she was invited by Jobim to record the LP Por Toda a Minha Vida, dedicated to the compositions of Jobim/Morais and orchestrated by Peracchi. In 1964, she went to New York, NY, where she recorded the LP Lenita Bruno em Hollywood, only with Brazilian songs, accompanied by Laurindo de Almeida, Clare Fischer, and Bud Schank. In the U.S., she also appeared on a TV special with José Feliciano and recorded another LP together with Bud Schank (Work of Love). Returning to Brazil, she would have her swan song with the shows Tribute to Mário de Andrade (Sala Funarte), Tom Jobim, Popular Ou Clássico? (in the Seis e Meia project), and in the solo show Para Amar e Sofrer (1986). ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi