Thanks to their sophisticated taste and pop sensibility, Clã (meaning "clan") became a 90's and 00's Portuguese pop mainstay. In 1992 musicians Helder Goncalves (piccolo bass), Manuela Azevedo (vocals), Miguel Ferreira (keyboards), Pedro Biscaia (keyboards), Pedro Rito (bass) and Fernando Goncalves (drums) came together to forming Clã. Four years later the group produced their debut recording LusoQualquerCoisa (1996) for EMI. This first record initiated a fruitful relationship with EMI that would come to produce seven such discs in a little over ten years. As the group's discography grew, so did their fan base and public acclaim. Clã became a crowd favorite for their mastery of the stage and ability to outshine their recordings in live concerts. Their records consistently earned high marks both from critics and sales/airplay charts alike. The band's 2007 release Cintura climbed to number 13 on Portuguese charts. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez