Braz was born in Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro, to a family of musicians: her father was an orchestra leader and her mother was a popular and classical pianist.

Her talent gained her the recognition of Brazil's greatest pop artists Gilberto Gil, Tim Maia, Alcione, Maria Bethânia, Emílio Santiago, Gal Costa, and Caetano Veloso, who became her stage and recording co-workers from 1975 to 1985.

In 1989, Braz provided vocals for the song "Lambada", recorded by Kaoma, which became a worldwide hit but was originally composed by Ulysses Hermosa, leader of the popular Bolivian folk group 'Los Kjarkas' and used without his permission; a settlement for an undisclosed sum was later reached.

Braz's adaptation of the Stevie Wonder song "Another Star" into Portuguese (as "Outro Lugar") demonstrated her skills, and that was why great names of world music were interested in her compositions and arrangements.

[citation needed] In the early hours of 19 January 2017, police found Braz's body in a burnt-out car next to a road in Saquarema, 73 km from Rio de Janeiro.