Wanderléa
The effervescent 'Ternurinha' of Brazilian TV, whose voice and style defined the optimistic, rock-infused youth movement of the 1960s Jovem Guarda.
Born 1946 (age 80)·Brazilian singer·Birthday: June 5·Baby Boomers
Biography
In mid-1960s Brazil, a television revolution was brewing. On TV Record's 'Jovem Guarda,' a trio of young stars—Roberto Carlos, Erasmo Carlos, and Wanderléa—channeled the spirit of British and American rock and roll into a uniquely Brazilian phenomenon. Wanderléa, nicknamed 'Ternurinha' (Little Tenderness) after her first hit, was its vibrant heart. With her miniskirts, go-go boots, and infectious energy, she became the face of a new, modern Brazilian youth. She wasn't just a co-host; she was a hitmaker, delivering catchy, upbeat songs like 'Preciso Ser Amada' and 'Há Tempos' that dominated the airwaves. The Jovem Guarda movement, while often apolitical in sound, represented a cultural break from tradition, much to the consternation of the older generation and the military regime. When the show ended in 1968, Wanderléa's star power endured through a successful singing career on stage and television. Her legacy is that of a specific, joyful moment—a time when Brazilian teens tuned in every week to dance in their living rooms, embracing a new, optimistic identity she helped to create.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Wanderléa was born in 1946, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Wanderléa Was Born
The biggest hits of 1946
#1 Movie
The Best Years of Our Lives
Best Picture
The Best Years of Our Lives
Wanderléa's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1946Born
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1951Started school
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1959Became a teenager
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1962Could drive
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1964Could vote
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1967Turned 21
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1976Turned 30
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 40
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 50
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 60
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 70
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 80
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-hosted the landmark television show 'Jovem Guarda,' which defined Brazilian youth culture in the mid-to-late 1960s.
- Launched her recording career with the hit 'Ternura' in 1965, which earned her the enduring nickname 'Ternurinha.'
- Released a string of successful albums and singles throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including 'Preciso Ser Amada' and 'Há Tempos.'
- Maintained a long-lasting career as a performer on Brazilian television and in live concerts for decades after Jovem Guarda.
Did You Know?
Her stage name, Wanderléa, is a single name, a common practice for Brazilian artists, but her full birth name is Wanderléa Charlup Boere Salim.
She was known for her distinctive, energetic dance moves and fashionable mod style on 'Jovem Guarda.'
The 'Jovem Guarda' show was so popular it spawned a film of the same name in 1968, featuring the trio of hosts.
She continued to perform and make television appearances well into the 21st century, celebrated as a symbol of her era.
“My voice is for the young heart, a shout of joy in a transistor radio.”
