Raça Negra

Raça Negra is a Brazilian samba and pagode group formed in 1983 in the Vila Nhocuné neighborhood of São Paulo. The group, led by vocalist Luiz Carlos, began in the peripheral areas of São Paulo as a trio and expanded to seven members by the time they recorded their eponymous first album in 1991. Known for their romantic style of samba and pagode, Raça Negra played a pivotal role in popularizing this genre in the early 1990s. The group's debut album included the hit "Caroline," which garnered significant attention and led to numerous television appearances. Their subsequent albums produced numerous hits such as "Cigana" (1992), "Cheia de Manias" (1992), and "Doce Paixão" (1994), cementing their place in Brazilian music. Notably, their song "É Tarde Demais" set a Guinness World Record for being played 600 times in a single day. Throughout the 1990s, Raça Negra's popularity soared, making them one of the highest-paid national acts. They have released over eighteen albums, with notable releases including Raça Negra Ao Vivo (1996) and A Vida por um Beijo (2003). Raça Negra's contributions to samba and pagode genres have earned them numerous awards and recognitions, including six gold and one platinum disc. Despite suffering a bus accident in 2014, the group soldiered on and unveiled the studio album Raça Negra Rei do Baile in 2015, followed by the live releases Raça Negra & Amigos II (2018) and O Mundo Canta Raça Negra (2022).