Leo Santana (singer) – Wikipedia

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Leo Santana

Santana in 2019
Born

Leandro Silva de Santana

(1988-04-22) 22 April 1988 (age 37)
Genres Pagode baiano
Occupation(s) Singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist
Years active 2001—present
Labels Universal Music

Musical artist

Leandro Silva de Santana Improta[1] (born 22 April 1988),[2] better known by his artistic name Leo Santana, is a Brazilian singer, composer, and percussionist.[3] He first achieved success as a member of the band Parangolé [pt], and would afterwards have a successful solo career, releasing hit singles throughout the 2010s and 2020s.

The son of Lourival and Marinalva Santana, Léo was born on 22 April 1988 in Salvador. He was raised in the Boa Vista do Lobato neighborhood, in the Bahian capital’s periphery, where, since he was an adolescent, had dreamed of working in music. While his family had reunited at their grandparent’s house in São Domingos, in Bahia’s interior, he had the custom of dancing and singing with his friends. Before starting his artistic career, however, he worked selling baked chickens on the beach and making cocktails in bars, but did not make much money doing so.[4] After sometime working as an assistant for a barber, and with much effort he opened his own barbershop and as such helped to pay for the expenses at home.[5]

2001–13: Parangolé

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Santana during a show, 2013.

Santana began his career under the artistic name Leo Silva, and went on to play percussion for Som Bahia. His first instrument while with the group was an old cavaquinho given to him by his mother, and afterwards began to play the pandeiro in a samba band in his community called Simplicidade Maior. However, due to him wanting to follow a career as a vocalist, he decided to leave the band. He afterwards joined the band Zairê, which later came to be called Garotos de Programa.[6] Soon afterwards, Santana was invited to join the band Pegadha de Guettho, with which he was a member of for a year. He went on to join with his friends Apert Play, all of them without great success.[7] However, with this last band, his friend Jean Nanico, a member ofParangolé, which had recently fired their main vocalist Bambam, decided to show a demo CD to the bands producer, and Santana was invited to become part of the group.[8]

Now going as Leo Santana, the singer suffered prejudice, as with the constant change in band vocalists, they did not believe that he would remain with the band for that long.[9] However, after his arrival, the band changed their style and their shows would go on to have a diversified lineup with the structure of the last generation. They had their first success at the time with their song “Sou Favela”. In 2009, Leo wrote together with lNenel, the founder of Parangolé, the song “Rebolation”, their contribution to 2010’s Carnaval celebrations.[10][11] The song became a summer hit, and with it the group went on to have international success, beating records at the charts inAngola and Portugal.[12] With this feat, Leo and the band earned a Guinness Book record for having the most played song in the world in 2010.[13] Along with being a commercial success, it was also a critical success, receiving the Troféu Dodô e Osmar in the Best Song category.[14] In December 2013, after five years as the band’s vocalist, Santana announced that, in March 2014, he would leave the band, as he felt that his name recognition was strong enough to start a solo career.[15][16][17]

2014–present: Solo career

[edit]

Santana during a performance in 2020

After Carnaval, he started on his solo career with a launch show for his tour, titled #LSTour2014, on 28 March with a crowd of 60,000 people in Cajazeiras.[18][19] In April, he released his first solo song released titled “Fenômeno”.[20] The song, which has influences from Angolan swing, was composed by himself and Rodriguinho, and which includes a guest appearance from Angolan singer Anselmo Ralph.[21] On 11 April, he released his first promotional solo CD, Uma Nova História, with many tracks going on to major success in the following years.[22] On 9 December 2015, he released his first DVD, titled #Deboche, which included singles such as: “Abana”, “Se Eu Te Trair a Culpa É Sua”, and “Deboche”.[23] This would be followed up by his second studio album, Super Ensaio, on 27 January 2016, with the participation of singers such as Wesley Safadão andSaulo Fernandes.[24] On 25 November, he would release his first DVD, #Bailedasantinha, which included performances by Marília Mendonça and included singles such as “Santinha”, “Vidro Fumê”, and “Um Tal de Toma”.[25][26]

On 25 May 2018, Santana released his first EP, Inovando, which included as participants Maiara & Maraisa and had “10 Beijos de Ruas” and “Uma Lá, Duas Cá” as singles.[27][28][29] This would be followed by the 8 November 2018 release of his album No Seu Paredão.[30] On 30 November 2018, he would release his second DVD, Ao Vivo em Goiânia, with unreleased songs and some of his prior successes.[31][32] In May, he released the single “Pretinho Tipo A”, with the participation of Thiaguinho.[33] 8 June 2019 saw the release of the EP O De Sempre No Mesmo Padrão, which had the lone single “Olha Como Está a Minha Mesa”.[34][35] In November, he launched the first part of his DVD Levada do Gigante, including the single “Contatinho”, in a partnership with Anitta.[36][37]

In 2011, Santana had a brief relationship with model and presenter Nicole Bahls.[38] In February 2017, he began dating dancer Lore Improta, with whom he became engaged to after 6 months of dating.[39][40][41] They broke up in December 2017, and again in March and July 2018, but they would get together again in October that same year.[42] The relationship would end for the 4th time at the end of May 2019,[43] but by June 2020, they were together again. In February 2021, they married at his house in Salvador, in a family only attended by close family members due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. Soon after, they announced that they would have their first child.[44] After they got married, Leo and Lore adopted each other’s surnames.[1]

Their first child, Liz, was born at the Portuguese Hospital in Salvador, on 26 September 2021.[45]

In April 2020, Santana was criticized on social media, accused of making donations to gain visibility. This occurred after a fundraising livestream that he hosted during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, which donated ten basic packages to every 10,000 people that watched the show. In response to the criticisms, Santana said that it was wrongly interpreted and that he would make the donations regardless of the amount of people. He also said that “no human being has an obligation to help anyone”.[46]

  • Uma Nova História (2014)
  • Super Ensaio (2016)
  • #Deboche (2015)
  • #Bailedasantinha (2016)
  • No Seu Paredão (2018)
  • Ao Vivo em Goiânia (2018)
  • Levada do Gigante (2019)

Awards and nominations

[edit]

  1. ^ a b “Assistir Domingão com Huck – Léo Santana e Lore Improta incluíram os sobrenomes um do outro ao casarem online | Globoplay” (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  2. ^ “Léo Santana”. purepeople (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  3. ^ “Leo Santana quebra silêncio, expõe bastidores inusitados com fãs e revela: “Uma fã eufórica veio”“. Bolavip Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  4. ^ “Leo Santana revela que já vendeu frango assado na praia antes da fama”. Jornal CORREIO | Notícias e opiniões que a Bahia quer saber. 2013-04-04. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  5. ^ “Leo Santana relembra rotina antes da fama no “De Frente com Gabi”“. tribunadoceara.uol.com.br. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  6. ^ “Leo Santana relembra início da carreira na banda Garoto de Programa: “Dois gogo boys e eu”“. Revista Glamour. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  7. ^ “Tudo o que você precisa saber sobre Leo Santana, de “Rebolation” a “Santinha” – Música”. MULTISHOW. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  8. ^ “pagodeaki | Léo? Bambam? O que será?”. Flogao. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  9. ^ “Leo Santana lembra início no Parangolé: ‘Não acreditavam em mim’“. CARAS. 2013-04-04. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  10. ^ “Bate-papo com Autor do “Rebolation”, Leo Santana do Parangolé conta que a música virou hit até na Europa – Arquivo – Bate-papo com convidados”. Bate-papo UOL. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  11. ^ “‘Rebolation’: Conheça Leo Santana e o Parangolé, sucesso no carnaval”. Extra Online. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  12. ^ “G1 > Música – NOTÍCIAS – ‘Rebolation’ surge como hit de verão em Salvador”. g1.globo.com. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  13. ^ Laurindo, Janaina (2019-01-14). “Recordista mundial com a música mais tocada em 2010, Leo Santana comenta: “2019 será o ano de me consolidar”“. Revista Versar. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  14. ^ Line, A. TARDE On. “Leo Santana e Parangolé são os grandes vencedores do Troféu Dodô e Osmar”. Portal A TARDE. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  15. ^ “Leo Santana oficializa saída do Parangolé; último show será em março”. musica.uol.com.br. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  16. ^ “Leo Santana revela se saiu do Parangolé por brigas”. R7.com. 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  17. ^ BA, Do G1 (2014-04-08). “Leo Santana conta que carreira solo foi ‘necessidade’; veja em vídeo”. Música na Bahia. Retrieved 2019-06-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Ferreira*, Tainara (2014-03-29). “Uma nova história: veja como foi o primeiro show da carreira solo de Leo Santana”. iBahia. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  19. ^ Ferreira*, Tainara (2014-03-29). “Leo Santana faz primeiro show em carreira solo no Festival da Cidade”. Jornal CORREIO | Notícias e opiniões que a Bahia quer saber. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  20. ^ iBahia, Redação (2014-04-04). “Após se lançar em carreira solo, Leo Santana lança primeira música”. iBahia. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  21. ^ Line, A. TARDE On. “Leo Santana lança primeira música da carreira solo”. Portal A TARDE. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  22. ^ iBahia, Redação (2014-06-11). “Leo Santana lança primeiro CD solo; baixe agora”. iBahia. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  23. ^ “Leo Santana – CD Deboche [Verão 2016] – Pagode – Sua Música”. www.suamusica.com.br. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
  24. ^ “Super Ensaio Leo Santana – Pagode – Sua Música”. www.suamusica.com.br. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
  25. ^ EGO, Laís Gomes Do; Fortaleza, em. “Leo Santana grava DVD em praia paradisíaca de Fortaleza”. Ego. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  26. ^ BA, Maiana Belo e Valma SilvaDo G1 (2017-01-05). “‘Meu momento’, diz Leo Santana sobre carreira e novo repertório”. Música na Bahia. Retrieved 2019-06-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ “Leo Santana lança novo EP e revela vontade de atuar: ‘Ia me sair muito bem’“. Extra Online. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  28. ^ Midlej, Roberto (2018-05-29). “Leo Santana canta ‘pagonejo’, reggae e pop em novo EP, Inovando”. Jornal CORREIO | Notícias e opiniões que a Bahia quer saber. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  29. ^ “Leo Santana lança seu novo EP; ouça “Inovando”“. Poltrona Vip. 2018-05-25. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  30. ^ “Leo Santana lança novo CD com apostas de músicas para o verão; ouça!”. POPline. 2018-11-08. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
  31. ^ “Leo Santana lança registro ao vivo com coletânea de sucessos e músicas inéditas! Ouça”. POPline. 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  32. ^ iBahia, Redação (2018-11-30). “Leo Santana lança DVD gravado em Goiânia; assista”. iBahia. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  33. ^ “Leo Santana e Thiaguinho exaltam a beleza negra em “Pretinho Tipo A”“. entretenimento.uol.com.br. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
  34. ^ Redação, Da (2019-06-07). “Leo Santana lança clipe e EP com quatro músicas inéditas; assista”. Jornal CORREIO | Notícias e opiniões que a Bahia quer saber. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  35. ^ OFuxico. “Leo Santana lança EP com quatro músicas inéditas. Confira!”. www.ofuxico.com.br. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  36. ^ “Leo Santana apresenta o álbum “Levada do Gigante – Parte 1″. Assista também a dois vídeos do projeto”. JBr. 2019-11-11. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
  37. ^ “Contatinho! Leo Santana lança hit com participação de Anitta”. ISTOÉ Independente. 2019-09-06. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
  38. ^ “EGO – NOTÍCIAS – Nicole Bahls e Leo Santana não estão mais juntos: ‘Ele terminou comigo’“. ego.globo.com. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  39. ^ “Leo Santana assume namoro com a bailarina Lorena Improta”. CARAS. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  40. ^ Redação, Da (2017-07-09). “Casamento à vista: Leo Santana e Lorena Improta anunciam noivado”. Jornal CORREIO | Notícias e opiniões que a Bahia quer saber. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  41. ^ “Biografia de Leo Santana: quem é o rei do Axé?”. OsPaparazzi (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  42. ^ “Após reconciliação, Leo Santana e Lorena Improta anunciam noivado: “Agora é oficial”“. revistaquem.globo.com. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  43. ^ “Lorena Improta e o cantor Leo Santana terminam noivado após cinco meses do anúncio”. F5. 2019-05-24. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  44. ^ “Léo Santana e Lore Improta se casam em Salvador; fotos”. Revista Quem. 20 February 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  45. ^ “Filha de Lore Improta e Leo Santana nasce em Salvador: ‘Foi incrível o parto, normal’, diz cantor”. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  46. ^ “‘Nenhum ser humano tem obrigação de ajudar ninguém’, diz Leo Santana sobre doação”. F5. Folha de S.Paulo. 2020-04-02. Archived from the original on 2020-04-26. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  47. ^ Line, A. TARDE On. “Leo Santana e Parangolé são os grandes vencedores do Troféu Dodô e Osmar”. Portal A TARDE. Retrieved 2019-11-10.
  48. ^ ““Santinha” de Leo Santana vence prêmio de música do Carnaval pelo Bahia Folia”. Varela Notícias – Conectado aos Baianos. 2017-03-02. Retrieved 2019-11-10.
  49. ^ “Leo Santana é o grande vencedor do Hit do Carnaval 2018”. contigo. Retrieved 2019-11-10.
  50. ^ “Conheça os indicados do Prêmio Multishow 2018 – Prêmio Multishow 2018 – Especiais”. MULTISHOW. Retrieved 2019-11-10.
  51. ^ Rodrigues, Raquel (2019-05-06). “MTV MIAW 2019: Anitta lidera com 8 indicações, Ludmilla, Whindersson, Maisa e Kevinho também são destaques; vem ver a lista completa!”. Hugo Gloss. Retrieved 2019-11-10.
  52. ^ Afro.TV (2024-10-15). “Prêmio Potências! 2024 anuncia categorias e recorde de marcas patrocinadoras”. Afro TV (Brasil) (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-01-08.


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