Samia Panni

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I have performed as a vocalist since the age of twelve in the Philippines, Indonesia, Canada, North Carolina and the Pacific Northwest. If I list the roles I have played in the theater of life, the list would read as follows: daughter, sister, friend, student, mother, aunt, great-aunt, vocalist, percussionist, producer, band leader, recording artist, composer, writer, radio programmer, teacher and peon.I have had the joy of singing in over a dozen languages, amongst them Portuguese, Spanish and English. During my first 19 years on this planet I traveled extensively because my father was an ambassador. I was born in Bangladesh, but thanks to my parents' exodus, raised internationally. Dedication to Brazilian music and culture began at the age of ten, while I was living in Argentina. My years in an educational institution were dedicated to the study of Socio-Cultural Anthropology & Brazilian/Cuban percussion.As a recording artist I am the featured vocalist on North Carolina's premier percussionist, Jim Brock's 1991 Grammy-nominated album, "What Is What Was," (I was delighted to have been invited to participate in his new DVD/CD release; please check it out at Jim's website ) and Ritmo Tropical's "Conga Mania." As a band leader I performed with the Brazilian-jazz ensemble, Beija Flor, for fifteen years, an ensemble I co-founded with guitarist Phil Sheeran.1987 was a year of initiations for me: I initiated a radio program dedicated to Brazilian music in Bellevue/Seattle named Raizes on KBCS-FM, which continues to attract many listeners. (By the way, you can tune in online as we webstream live. Just click the "Listen Live" button at our website: kbcs.fm ) That same year, while Project Director at the Lincoln Arts Association, I organized the first "Festa Brasileira" that featured 25 Brazilian artists, sharing their expertise through workshops and culminating in a grand finale performance. Seattle's Mayor at the time proclaimed April 17, 1987 as Brazil Day in the city to commemorate this event. Festa Brasileira eventually became an annual event from 1994 through 1997. With the help of Beija Flor members, I produced an extravaganza, providing an opportunity for most of the top performers of Brazilian music/dance in Seattle to showcase their talents.Currently I continue to perform with various artists including, Abràce (a vocal/percussion group singing music from around the world), Jovino Santos-Neto (with whom I continue to perform Brazilian jazz music), Fofinho (exploring the Afro Sambas of Baden Powell & Vinicius de Moraes) and the group Yoginis with whom I recently recorded "Songbird" for an EP, which can be heard here: Yoginis . I plan to revive Beija Flor very soon.I enjoy every moment of being a mother to my teenage son Khalil and encourage him to enrich his life by immersing in endeavors that he feels passionate about. You can check out his webpage here: Khalil's myspace . P.S. I feel truly blessed to have Yemayá/Iemanjá/Yemoja as my spiritual mother. She has protected and watched over me for years.