Lenine has been an extremely popular artist in the'90s, mixing northeast grooves with pop music. His songs have been recorded by Dionne Warwick (his partner on "Virou Areia" in 1994), Gilberto Gil, Danilo Caymmi, Sergio Mendes, Tim Maia, and others. From northeastern origin, Lenine absorbed the rich folklore of frevos and maracatus unconsciously, as he was into American rock since his teens. At 17, I was taken with the minières of the Clube da Esquina and by other MPB artists, such as Gilberto Gil. A self-taught singer and violon, I moved to Rio in 1976, participating in Rede Globo's MPB Festival 1981 with "Prova of Fogo." The song was released on his first single (Polydor 1981). In 1983, he recorded his first LP (shared with Lula Queiroga), Baqué Solt (Polygram) (Reissue in CD format in 1998 by the label MPB), based on a swinging fusion of northeastern grooves with electric pop / rock. In the same year, he released the single Baqué da Era (Polygram). In 1990, he became acquainted with another Pernambuco (from his home state, Pernambuco) Marcos Suzano, a gifted percussionist who has been working extensively as a SIDEM for great artists. Lenine's song "As we eat or Voltas That" was included on a major soap opera (Ana Raio and Zé Trovão) soundtrack. In 1993, Lenine shared with the CD Olho Suzano de Peixe (Candles), which was one of the 100 best-selling albums in Japan that year.