Rafael Franco

Rafael Franco came up in Salvador, Bahia, where he grew up around samba, axé, and forró. He started singing and playing guitar, and by the mid-1990s he put out his first album, which took its name from the song 'Anel de Chiclete.' That track, a story about unrequited love, caught on quickly and helped the record sell well.

He worked with other musicians from the Bahia scene, including Luiz Caldas and Carlinhos Brown. Later on he made albums like 'Samba de Verão' and 'Axé de Raiz,' and sang with artists such as Daniela Mercury and Gilberto Gil. Other songs people remember include 'Sensação' and 'Goiás Sem Fronteira.'