Lenine
Brazilian singer-songwriter from Recife, Pernambuco
About Lenine
Born 1959. Lenine is a Brazilian singer-songwriter, songwriter, singer, guitarist, record producer and recording artist.
Lenine, artist name of Osvaldo Lenine Macedo Pimentel (born 2 February 1959), is a Brazilian singer-songwriter from Recife, Pernambuco. Between the years of 2002 and 2018, he has earned a total of seven Latin Grammy Awards, (including the 2005 awards for "Best Brazilian Contemporary Album" and "Best Brazilian Song").
Career Lenine's career began at the age of 18, when he moved to Rio de Janeiro to compete in a music festival. In 1983, he released his first LP, Baque Solto, with partner Lula Queiroga. Ten years later, he released his second album, Olho de Peixe, with percussionist Marcos Suzano. Lenine's first solo record, O Dia em que Faremos Contato, was released in 1997, featuring a mixture of electronica, northeastern Brazilian rhythms and samba. Two years later, he released Na Pressão. In 2001, Falange Canibal was released. This album attracted international attention due to the appearance of the U.S. group Living Color performing with him on the song "O Homem dos Olhos de Raios-X". His next album In Cité (2004) was recorded live at the auditorium of the Cité de la Musique (City of Music) in Paris.
In 2005, Lenine won two Latin Grammys: one for "Best Brazilian Contemporary Album" and one for "Best Brazilian Song". His first North American release, a self-titled collection of his own compositions, was issued in 2006.
In addition to being a performer of note, Lenine is an accomplished composer for other artists; he possesses a catalog of over 500 songs written for artists including Maria Bethânia, Milton Nascimento, Daniela Mercury, and Zélia Duncan. Among Lenine's most famous songs is "Relampiano" (lightning strikes), about a child from the favela who sells candies at stoplights. This song, written with Paulinho Moska, was inspired by an encounter between them and a young street vendor in Rio de Janeiro.
In 2015, his album Carbono was nominated for the 16th Latin Grammy Awards in the Best MPB Album category, with the track "Simples Assim" being nominated for the Best Brazilian Song category.
His live album Em Trânsito was ranked as the 26th best Brazilian album of 2018 by the Brazilian edition of Rolling Stone magazine.
Discography 1983—Baque Solto (with Lula Queiroga) 1993—Olho de Peixe (with Marcos Suzano) 1997—O Dia em que Faremos Contato 1999—Na Pressão 2001—Falange Canibal 2004—In Cité (live album) 2006—Lenine Acústico MTV (live album) 2007—Breu 2008—Labiata (Wrasse Records; UK) 2011—Chão 2013—Triz 2015—Carbono 2016—The Bridge (live at Bimhuis; with Martin Fondse Orchestra; live album) 2018—Em Trânsito (live album) 2021—The Bridge II (with Martin Fondse; mini album)
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Lenine's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Lenine's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Lenine?
Brazilian singer-songwriter from Recife, Pernambuco
When was Lenine born?
Lenine was born on 2 February 1959 in Recife.
What is Lenine's occupation?
Lenine is a singer-songwriter, songwriter, singer, guitarist, record producer and recording artist.
What nationality is Lenine?
Lenine is Brazilian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Lenine. https://biography.guide/lenine/
MLA: "Lenine." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/lenine/.
Chicago: "Lenine." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/lenine/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence
Page generated 2026-09-27 04:58 UTC