Jorge Ben Jor – composer of such Brazilian anthems as "Mas, Que Nada,""Chove Chuva,""Que Pena," and "Pais Tropical." This happy master of samba-funk consistently has had best selling albums with over 20 CD’s recorded on Polygram, Warner, and Sony.

Born in Madureira and raised in Catumbi, Rio de Janeiro?s suburbs, Jorge enjoyed singing with the church choir and going out with carnival bands from an early age. In his teens, he was a given a guitar and started playing Bossa Nova and Rock ?n Roll with it. Raised by his mother to be a pediatrician, by his father to be a lawyer, and by his instincts to become a soccer-player, he chose to be a musician instead.

In the 60s, he performed at Beco das Garrafas, which later became a legendary nightclub area in Copacabana and home of the Bossa Nova movement. And that?s where he was spotted by a producer, who promptly offered him a record deal. Soon, in 1963, the first single was out, featuring "Mas Que Nada" and "Por Causa de Voc?, Menina", performed along with the group Copa Cinco. That same year, he released his first LP, Samba Esquema Novo. Ben headed to the United States, where his compositions "Zazoeira", "Mas Que Nada" and "Nena Nan?" hit the charts and were re-interpreted by musicians such as Sergio Mendes, Herb Alpert, Jos? Feliciano and Trini Lopez. In the era of musical shows on TV, Ben managed to remain faithful to his multi-faceted techniques, appearing on bossa nova, rock?n?roll and tropicalist productions. In 1969, he relished on success with songs like "Cad? Teresa", "Pa?s Tropical" and "Que Maravilha", besides competing on a festival with "Charles Anjo 45".

He was placed first in 1972, when Maria Alcina sang his "Fio Maravilha". Ben Jor released other albums in the 70s, including the classics A T?bua de Esmeralda (1974) and ?frica Brasil (1976). During the next decade, he dedicated to spreading Brazilian music throughout the world. In 1989 he changed his name from Jorge Ben to Jorge Ben Jor. His song "W/Brasil," released in 1990, hit the dance floors in ?91 and ?92, turning into a long-lasting fever. At that point, his records took on a more pop direction, nonetheless keeping his trademark swing. Jorge Ben Jor?s music holds a unique role in the Brazilian scene, due to the merging of new elements in his swinging mix and to the way he plays the guitar, revealing his appreciation of soul music and American funk, yet incorporating the influence of African and Arabian music, legacy of his Ethiopian mother. Born in Rio de Janeiro.

Samba Esquema Novo (Philips, 1963

Sacudin Ben Samba (Philips, 1964

Ben ? Samba Bom (Philips, 1964

Big Ben (Philips, 1965

O Bidu - Sil?ncio No Brooklin (Movieplay/Philips, 1967

Jorge Ben 1969 (Philips,

For?a Bruta (Philips, 1970

Negro ? Lindo (Philips, 1971

Ben (Philips, 1972

Jorge Ben - 10 Anos Depois (Philips, 1973

A T?bua De Esmeralda (Philips, 1974

Gil E Jorge - Ogum - Xang? (Philips, 1975

Solta O Pav?o (Philips, 1975

Jorge Ben ? L'olympia (Phonogram/Philips, 1975

?frica Brasil (Philips, 1976

Tropical (Island Records/Phonogram, 1977)

A Banda De Z? Pretinho 1978

Salve Simpatia (Cast/Globo-Sigla, 1979)

Al? Al?, Como Vai ? (Som Livre, 1980

Bem Vinda Amizade (Cast, 1981

D?diva (Sigla, 1983

Sonsual (Som Livre, 1984

Jorge Ben Brasil 1986

Benjor (Warner, 1989)

Jorge Ben Jor Ao Vivo No Rio (Warner, 1991)

23 (Warner, 1993)

Ben World Dance 1995

Homo Sapiens (Sony Brasil, 1995

M?sicas Para Tocar Em Elevador (Sony Brazil/Epic, 1997

Acustico MTV A: Admiral Jorge V (Universal, 2002)

Acustico MTV B: Banda Do Ze Pretinho (Universal, 2002)

US agent: Eye for Talent