leonardo goncalves

i was born in 1979 in the northeastern brazilian in-lands, a small town called palmares in the state of pernambuco. i started studying music at the age of 7, a baroque instrument called viola da gamba, in lüneburg, germany, with rainhardt tüting. but it was only when i returned to brazil in 1994/1995 that i started singing. first in my school's youth choir called "coral jovem do iasp" and almost immediately in a smaller, semi-professional group called "tom de vida", both directed by lineu soares. that was my first contact with what later i learned to be contemporary christian music.i participated in the recordings of 6 albums back then. "toma Tua cruz" (coral jovem do iasp, 1995 release); "pelo prazer de servir" (tom de vida, 1996 release); "quero ter Jesus" (coral jovem do iasp, 1997 release); "sorriso da alma" (tom de vida, 1998 release); "10 anos tom de vida/escolhi acreditar" (tom de vida, 1999 release); and "iluminando corações" (coral jovem do iasp, 1999 release). it was also during that period that i started doing studio back vocals.in the year 2000 my group moved to another town and changed their name to "novo tom". this was also the same year i started recording my debut solo album called "poemas e canções" which only got released in june 2002. but i still participated in the recording and release of 2001 novo tom album called "o melhor lugar do mundo".it took me 5 years from my first to my second album release, "viver e cantar". 2 years of touring to promote the first album. then 2 years of pre-production and the production itself lasted from august 2006 until the release date, august 2007.in september 2010 i released an all hebrew album called "Avinu Malkenu" through sony music. and now, april 13th 2012 i'll release my 3rd portuguese album called "princípio e fim".