Gretchen

Maria Odete Brito de Miranda, known as Gretchen (May 29, 1959 in Rio de Janeiro – ) is a Brazilian singer. She became notorious as the Rainha do Bumbum ("Butt Queen") in the late 1970s when, after doing backing vocals for years, she appeared on a TV show and soon recorded her debut album, "Dance With Me". In 1980, 1981 and 1982, she released her three most successful albums: My Name Is Gretchen, You and Me, and Lonely. These three albums featured songs that became hallmarks in her career, such as "Freak Le Boom Boom", "Melô do Piripipi", "Conga Conga Conga".

Between 1980 and 1982, she grabbed the media's attention by making "sexy" music, while still enjoying popularity among children. After Lonely in 1982, she went on a downward spiral while trying to remain on the charts. Born as a Roman Catholic, she embraced the Protestant faith in the 1990s, and began singing Gospel music. By the end of the 1990s, her hits had returned to dance floors. With the emergence of Butt Music stars like Carla Perez, Gretchen was eventually recognized as a forerunner of the hip shakers. The compilation 20 Super Sucessos came out in 1998 on Copacabana/EMI.

Gretchen signed a contract to star a porn movie for Brazilian porn producers Brasileirinhas in 2006, following the example of Rita Cadillac, with whom she appeared in the Pornochanchada Aluga-se Moças in 1982. The movie, La Conga Sex, was released by November, followed by another porn title, Carnaval 2007, released in February 2007.

In 2008, she became candidate to be mayor of the city of Itamaracá.