Tânia Braz

Tânia Braz’s family roots originated from the interiors of Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo states, where her ancestors, local farmers, used to cultivate coffee and raise cattle. Hard times caused by a slowdown of the national economy along with other misfortunes, contributed to a total loss of the family’s assets. Her grandmother, Dna Rita, decided to move to the city but only to end up living in a small and modest home. The story goes that in the evenings, after a hard day’s work, Dna Rita, surrounded by her ten children, would play the guitar and sing, while her husband recited poetry written by his brother Euclides. A generation later, the newlyweds, police detective Sr. Expedito Ferreira and school teacher, Da. Terezinha Rosa Braz moved in to a small house with a pretty garden at Marambaia street, Bairro Caicaras, in the city of Belo Horizonte. It has been told that very often the neighbors would shyly stop by the garden fences to hear a beautiful mezzo soprano voice coming from the backyard. That voice belonged to Tania’s mother, who would joyfully sing songs while taking care of her flowers.