By Sean Chaffin, Editor/Senior Writer

Last Updated: March 10, 2010; 9:00 pm CT

March 17 would have been Elis Regina’s 65^th birthday, and ConnectBraazil.com brings you a new blog chronicling her life and music – Celebrating Elis Regina.

The new blog offers Regina’s complete biography, “Furacão Elis,” by Regina Echeverria and first published in Brazil in 1985. The blog is a unique presentation offering the book free online chapter by chapter. Regina grew to become one of Brazil’s most famous and groundbreaking singers, but her life was cut short tragically in 1982 from a drug overdose. Her story is a gripping tale of an amazing talent. As Sounds of Brazil radio host Scott Adams notes in his introduction to the project:

Nicknamed ‘The Hurricane”, – an allusion to her mood swings – Elis Regina’s talent was beyond measure and had no equal. Indeed, in the ensuing 20 years, the void created by her passing has gone largely unfilled in Brazilian song.

The site also offers video of some of her best performances as well as an Elis Regina store to purchase her music for your own collection. For some history of Brazil song, we suggest you check it out.

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In addition to this online presentation of her life, National Public Radio’s All Things Considered also recently spotlighted the Elis Regina’s life as part of its 50 Great Voices series. The feature is a nice retrospective of her life and influence on Brazilian Jazz and Brazilian music as a whole.