Bossa Rio

The original Bossa Rio was discovered by Sergio Mendes. Gracinha Leporace was the group's lead singer and well-known and respected in Brazil. By then she had worked with Antonio Carlos Jobim, Edu Lobo, Milton Nascimento and other of Brazil's top musicians and composers. In 1968 Mendes invited the original group to come to the United States. Most chose to stay in their native Brazil. She chose to come to the U.S. Mendes recruited new members to be part of Bossa Rio. 

Bossa Rio's concert debut was in Mexico in 1969 shortly after the June 1 release of their A&M Records album. Bossa Rio toured with Mendes' Brasil '66 as its opening act for two years and both groups appeared at the Expo '70 in Japan. 

Gracinha's crossover to Brasil '66 began when she did the lead vocal on "Lapinha" on the 1968 album Fool On the Hill. The Brasil '66 album of 1970, Stillness, was a transition. Lani Hall had decided to leave the group but sang lead vocal on most of the songs. Gracinha sang the lead vocal on "Lost In Paradise" and Karen Phillip on "For What It's Worth." Gracinha Leporace officially joined Brasil '66 in the fall of 1970 and at that point Bossa Rio disbanded.