Selma Gonçalves

Selma Gonçalves came up singing in church choirs in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Her 1983 debut album included the song 'Louvor Desceu do Céu,' which became widely known in Brazilian gospel circles. Other songs like 'Novo Viver' and 'Filho Estou Aqui' also appeared among her recorded work.

Her straightforward vocal delivery and the directness of her material connected with listeners, though her outspoken views on some religious matters drew criticism from more conservative quarters. She kept recording through the 1980s and 1990s, putting out albums with titles like 'Deus é Fiel' and 'Escudo de Deus.'

The band she performed with changed personnel over time. Her music stayed rooted in the gospel tradition she started with, even as the conversation around her sometimes drifted elsewhere.