Nery Nascimento

Nery Nascimento came from Baixio do Meio, a small town in Alagoas, Brazil. He started singing in his local church choir as a kid, and by his teens he was playing in bands around local festivals. In 1977, he put out his first album, 'A Linda Jerusalém,' and the title track caught on quickly. That song, along with others like 'Só Deus' and 'Ele Vem,' helped establish him in Brazilian gospel circles.

His music blended traditional gospel with some pop and rock touches, which didn't sit well with everyone at first. Some conservative listeners thought it sounded too secular. But he kept at it, and over time his approach found a wider audience. He worked with musicians like his brother Eliézer on drums, Eduardo Falcão on bass, and Tiãozinho on keyboards.

Nascimento recorded steadily through the late '70s and '80s, with albums like 'Quero Viver,' 'Um Novo Coração,' and 'O Amor de Deus.' Songs such as 'Vai Acontecer Milagre' and 'Promessas' became staples in many churches.