The Exaltasamba began as an unremarkable beginning as an amateur band formed by workmen and reached massive nationwide success. The band's international performances include the cities of Buenos Aires (Argentina), New York, New Jersey, and Boston (in the U.S). Organized in 1982 by amateur musicians from São Paulo to participate in the music festival Festival de Música Popular de São Bernardo do Campo (São Paulo), the group won the competition, repeating the result in the next year. Going pro, the Exaltasamba became Jovelina Pérola Negra's supporting band in the late '80s. Having the song "Deixa Como Está" (aka "Melô da Padaria") included on the Chopapo's compilation, the band gained enough interest to record their first album, Eterno Amanhecer (1992, Kaskata). The album had a hit with "Quero Sentir de Novo." Other successes of that period were "24 Horas de Amor" and "Cartilha do Amor." National popularity was achieved by Exaltasamba with their third album, the first released through a major (EMI Odeon), the CD Luz do Desejo (1996). Their first national hit was "Luz do Desejo," followed by "Telegrama" and "Louca Paixão." Desliga e Vem (1997) sold one-million copies. The group's fifth album, Cartão Postal, yielded two consecutive Crowley Prizes (January/February, 1999) for the nationwide most aired song ("Me Apaixonei Pela Pessoa Errada"). ~ Alvaro Neder