Connect Brazil made its launch day debut in November 1996. Some Things Never Change.
I’m Scott Adams. Let me welcome you to Connect Brazil: Our Story.
Connectbrazil.com began life as a simple six-page website in 1996 to enhance The Sounds of Brazil radio program here in Chicago. That was two years before Google.
Back then, the big attraction on the home page was a pair of dancing palm trees. Over the next decades, Connectbrazil.com has grown to become a leading destination for the latest news on Brazilian music, plus interesting ‘crossover’ stories about the country and its culture.
Today Connect Brazil looks handsome on your desktop, TV, tablet, or smartphone. It’s ready for whatever comes next, just as we have always been.
For that, Connect Brazil has enjoyed the support of three highly respected technical partners, and right up front, I want to say thank you:
- Ace Computers, Des Plaines, IL. – From our streaming servers to our desktop workstations, Ace is unmatched with the highest quality products and support. Ace Computers has been with us from Day One. Thank you, John and Dan.
- Live365, Pittsburgh, PA. – Visionary Live365 is our decades-long streaming partner for The Sounds of Brazil and Connect Brazil’s live streaming station. Thank you, Jason and Jon.
- AccuRadio, Chicago, IL. – When the opportunity came to expand my programming goals to pure-play streaming, AccuRadio welcomed me with open arms. Today AccuRadio’s Brazilian streams have expanded to 15 channels, buoyed by its Industry-leading performance. Thank you, Kurt, John, and Paul.
So, let’s take a trip through time!
Our Cultural Roots
Our website was created to support our weekly syndicated radio show, The Sounds of Brazil which debuted on Chicago’s WDCB on April 5, 1992.
After an 18-year run with Smooth Jazz WNUA 95.5, WDCB welcomed The Sounds of Brazil back home on October 3rd, 2012, where it is heard on Sundays, 2 pm – 4 pm CT. Each weekly show is also available on demand.
Connect Brazil’s cultural outreach extends far beyond radio waves. We have also supported Brazilian communities coast-to-coast with the Connect Brazil Buyer’s Club and its companion print publication, The Brazilian Music Review, in 1998 with 3,000 subscribers.
Time Machine
Here’s what Connectbrazil.com looked like back in the early days, courtesy of the Wayback Machine. And here’s what our site looked like a decade later. And a decade after that, just as we were starting to introduce fans to BrazilClubUSA.com and its community-based directory.
This is what BrazilClubUSA.com looked like when it debuted in 2011.
But not everything is new.
I’ve made sure that Connect Brazil retains its traditions of relatability and great storytelling and that we keep our focus on serving fans of Brazilian music while supporting the musicians who create the music we love.
It’s a unique perspective on music, travel, friends, and fun.
Connect Brazil: Cultural Innovation And Historic Firsts
Our homepage is where to catch up with the best tips and trends to help you add a little more ‘Brazil’ to your life whenever you want to.
When Brazil celebrated their Bicentennial in 2022, their Ministry of Culture turned to lonnect Brazil to tell their story. We created The Brazilian Minute, a 52-week series of published and narrated stories covering the country’s history, music, and culture.
Brazilian music fans are underserved, and musicians have few affordable choices to promote their music. So, Connect Brazil created community-based Music Showcases. Published seasonally, these Showcases help fans and musicians come together.
Connect Brazil is a pioneer in streaming Brazilian music worldwide.
In 1999 I was recruited by Mark Cuban’s Broadcast.com to produce the world’s first Brazilian music streaming channel. Three years later, Live365 invited me to join its broadcast lineup to begin a decades-long partnership.
Connect Brazil programs a growing network of streaming music channels, plus The Sounds of Brazil’s ‘always live’ streaming station. Enjoy our award-winning weekly radio show, plus George Klabin’s weekly Heart of Brasil radio show (available for syndication).
Getting To The Heart of Brasil
Klabin turned to Connect Brazil to create Heart of Brasil’s concept, imaging, and formatics (specific guidelines and programming clocks) to enhance Klabin’s ‘storytelling’ style and to ensure a consistent, quality listening experience.
The show debuted on Connect Brazil’s streaming station on July 10, 2025. Resonance Records label owner George Klabin made Brazilian radio history as the first Grammy winner to host a Brazilian music radio show.
We chose the date to honor João Gilberto, who recorded the first Bossa Nova song on that same day in 1958.
Respect for the music.
Get our weekly E-Letter.
Connect Brazil Celebrates Milestones for Bossa Nova and Jobim
The summer of 2018 marked Bossa Nova’s 60th birthday, and we spent 10 weeks indulging ourselves with the stories, legends, and unlikely heroes that helped to create Brazil’s signature style for the rest of the world to enjoy.
2027 brings Connect Brazil’s Centennial Celebration for Antonio Carlos Jobim. I hope that you’ll join us!
Even as I write these words today, a top producer in Italy is preparing to send us a brace of new Bossa Nova tunes to add to The Sounds of Brazil’s playlist in the weeks and months ahead. Sounds exciting!
Some things never change. Welcome to Connect Brazil!
Taking you away, from your part of the world to ours!
Scott Adams, Creative Director
Music, Travel, Friends & Fun!
Connect Brazil: Our Story
Stories like ‘Connect Brazil: Our Story’ are what we do. Why don’t you join us?
Sign up for our e-letter. Listen to Brazil Back2Back on demand and our live streaming station. Explore our top stories, our Music Charts, and streaming channels, always free. Like our Facebook page, and follow us on X (Twitter) and Instagram.
