Ivete Maria Dias de Sangalo (; born 27 May 1972) is a Brazilian singer-songwriter, TV host, and occasional actress. She was on six albums with Banda Eva, and seven more solo albums. Sangalo is noted for her powerful voice, charisma and live performances. Her music is popular in Portugal. She has sold 25 million copies of her albums and won 4 Latin Grammy Awards As a child, Sangalo started to sing and play guitar at the school where she studied. Her debut show happened in Ondina, Salvador in August 1992. With that show she won the Dorival Caymmi trophy, considered the Grammy of Bahia music. Life and career Beginnings, Banda Eva and early solo career Ivete Sangalo was born in Juazeiro, Bahia, where she spent her childhood. She is of paternal Spanish descent (her grandfather was born in Spain). She started her singing career in events at school and then started singing at bars. She started to receive attention and signed with Sony Music. In 1993, Sony decided to reform the Axé group Banda Eva and she was chosen as the lead singer. Her live album with the band, Banda Eva Ao Vivo, was their best-selling album, selling over a million copies. In 1997 she started a solo career and in 1999 she released her first album. With many upbeat Bahian rhythms and axé, the album received gold and platinum certification. The following year she released, Beat Beleza, which also achieved platinum status. In 2000 she released the album Festa, whose title track was another success. The single was very popular, and the album got platinum certification. "Festa" was her biggest single up to that point and the video received huge airplay. "Festa" was the most popular song of 2001 in Brazil. Its music video featured 20 cameo appearances by Brazilian celebrities. In 2002, she released the album Se Eu Não te Amasse Tanto Assim (If I Didn't Love You So Much), titled after her big hit that reached the first position in the singles chart. The album, which features a duet with American singer Brian McKnight, didn't sell as much as her previous albums, but was still a hit. Following Se Eu Não te Amasse Tanto Assim, she released Clube Carnavalesco Innocentes Em Progresso in 2003. It was the lowest-selling solo album of her career but it still managed to receive gold certification. 2003–2008: Career consolidation MTV Ao Vivo