É o Tchan

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É o Tchan is a popular axé music group from Bahia, Brasil.

[edit] History

Originally called Gera Samba, they exploded onto the scene with their hit single 'Segura o Tchan'. Their first album, called É o Tchan (1995), sold into triple platinum.

After legal problems, the name of the band changed from Gera Samba to É o Tchan and with this name, they released the album 'Na Cabeça e na Cintura' [In the Hips and In the Head].

The group became popular because of the combination of catchy music and pointless lyrics, with choreography performed by two dancers, a blonde and a brunette. Both became big stars and did Playboy covers, with the Carla Perez cover being the bestselling until 1999, when the Tiazinha and Feiticeira issues outsold her. The brunette dancer, Scheila, was also a big star. Both dancers wore little tops and bootie shorts.

Carla Perez was very popular among kids and teenagers, and so was the group. Many licensed products were released under her image, such as costumes, sticker albums and bootie shirts.

Their 1996 album was the best-selling of the year, selling over 2 million copies in Brazil, and in 1997 they released another huge hit, the album 'É o Tchan do Brasil'. The album sold, again, over 2 million copies and was the best-selling of the year. It was released after the brunette dancer left the group and an audition was made at the highest-rated Sunday show in Brazil, O Domingão do Faustão. Soon after the release, Carla Perez decided to leave the group and start a solo career, and again another audition was made at Domingão do Faustão. The first prize was, aside from becoming a member of the group, the cover of a Playboy Magazine.

Their fourth album, third as É o Tchan, was not as much of a success as the first two, but sold really well, receiving a diamond certification. The CD, after É o Tchan do Brasil [Is the Tchan from Brasil], was called É o Tchan no Havai [Is the Tchan in Hawaii]. Their next album also received diamond certification, É o Tchan na Selva [Is the Tchan in the Jungle] and that was their last album to receive diamond certification.

The lineup has changed three times since then and they have released two other albums and a compilation, in 2000, 2001 and 2003, respectively. The group released, in 2005, a 10 Year's Celebrative DVD which was certificated three times platinum.

[edit] Members

Original Lineup

Cumpadi Washington, vocals

Beto Jamaica, vocals

Jacaré, male dancer

Carla Perez, blonde female dancer

Débora Brasil, brunette dancer

Lineup by year 2000

Cumpadi Washington, vocals

Beto Jamaica, vocals

Jacaré, male dancer

Sheila Mello, blonde dancer

Scheila Carvalho, brunette dancer

Current Lineup

Renatinho da Bahia, vocals

Jacaré, male dancer

Tony Salles, male dancer

Silmara Miranda, blonde dancer

Scheila Carvalho, brunette dancer