[citation needed] Along with Maysa Matarazzo, Ângela Maria and Dolores Duran, Ney is considered one of the greatest samba-canção singers who became popular in the 30s.

[clarification needed] Samba-canção preceded bossa nova but came from American jazz and had more refined, gentle and soft melodies and interpretations, in detriment of those resented, melancholic ones.

[clarification needed] "Nina Ney was melodramatic and yet emotionally cool at the same time," noted musicologist Bryan McCann of her style.

[1] She began her career in 1950 and in 1953 was already one of the greatest singers of the Brazilian Radio Era, interpreting Dorival Caymmi, Noel Rosa, Ary Barroso, and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Ney was forced into exile after the 1964 Brazilian coup d'état due to Goulart's political involvement with the Communist Party of Brazil.