Stephanie Teel

Brazilian music is popular wherever you go. Bossa Nova, Brazilian funk, samba, Brazilian pop rock songs, or ballads; it doesn’t matter. The music is full of energy and warm feelings transmitted through chords, solos, and voices. In Brazil we can appreciate concerts by Marisa Monte, Gal Costa, Simone, Maria Bethania, and others. However, once outside of the tropical home country, we have to wait for events such as jazz festivals or other producers to bring our “divas” to sing for us. Lately I have been giving my attention especially to female voices because they are often hidden behind a band, yet at the same time, they can be the high point of the concert.

Historically, Brazilians or not, it can be seen that bands are formed by boys and men, who, playing guitar and screaming into microphones found a logical place to purse a career. For generations, the stigma of being a singer marked women of incredible talent who often abandoned their passion for music to marry, have babies and spend the rest of their existence in stable lives. Music careers, like other professional artistic paths, were not often considered acceptable for women. Fortunately this has changed, and many women pursue music today as a popular career.

In San Francisco, I usually search for incredible musicians and remarkable voices to appreciate. I found out about many female bands, singers, guitar and drum kit players, and rock’n rollers; beautiful and talented women who sing with their heart and soul. Most of them are Americans and some are Brazilians. This article, first in a series called “Female voices from San Francisco,” is especially dedicated to two Brazilians: Sarah Cabral and Dandha da Hora, and two Americans, Maria Stanford and Stephanie Teel. All of them are gifted with and remarkable voices. Dandha da Hora came from Bahia to join the band called SambaDa (founded by Papiba Godinho); Sarah Cabral came from Londrina and sings with her band called Macabea; Maria Stanford came from Texas and has formed the bands Color Puddy and Black Betty; and Stephanie Teel is one of the rare San Franciscans, she is part of the band called The Fabulous Cruise Tones.