Cazuza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cazuza
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Background information | |
| Born | April 4, 1958 |
| Origin | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Died | July 7, 1990 (aged 32) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1980–1990 |
Agenor de Miranda Araújo Neto, known to everyone as Cazuza, was a famous Brazilian singer and songwriter. He was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 4, 1958, and passed away on July 7, 1990. Many people consider Cazuza to be one of the greatest Brazilian rock musicians. He was the lead singer for the band Barão Vermelho and also had a very successful solo career. In just nine years, he sold more than 5 million albums! He also had many hit songs, with 11 reaching number one in Brazil.
Contents
About Cazuza's Life
Early Years and Music Interests
Cazuza grew up surrounded by music. His father, João Araújo, was a record producer, and his mother, Maria Lúcia Araújo, loved to sing. From a young age, Cazuza enjoyed Brazilian music, especially songs with deep, emotional feelings. He started writing his own lyrics and poems around 1965.
In 1974, Cazuza visited London, England. There, he discovered rock bands like Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones, and he became a big fan. In 1978, he started college to study journalism. However, he left after only three weeks to work with his father at a music company called Som Livre. Later, he moved to San Francisco, where he learned about "Beat literature," which greatly influenced his writing.
Joining Barão Vermelho
In 1980, Cazuza returned to Rio de Janeiro. He worked with a theater group where he met a singer named Léo Jaime. Léo introduced him to a new rock band called Barão Vermelho (Red Baron) that needed a singer. This was the start of Cazuza's career as a professional singer.
The band became very popular in the 1980s. One of their biggest hits was "Bete Balanço," which was part of a movie soundtrack. In 1985, Cazuza and Barão Vermelho performed at Rock in Rio, a huge music festival. Around this time, famous musician Caetano Veloso called Cazuza the greatest Brazilian poet of his generation. Later that year, Cazuza decided to leave the band. He wanted more freedom to write and express himself in his music.
Cazuza's Solo Career
After leaving Barão Vermelho, Cazuza's music began to change. He started adding elements of the blues to his songs, like "Blues da Piedade" (Blues of Compassion). His lyrics became more personal, and he also explored Brazilian pop music. He sang his own versions of songs by other artists, such as Cartola and Raul Seixas.
Cazuza's solo career became even more successful than his time with the band. Songs like "Exagerado" (Exaggerated), "O Tempo não Pára" (Time Doesn't Stop), and "Ideologia" (Ideology) were huge hits. These songs greatly influenced many Brazilian musicians who came after him.
Cazuza also co-wrote a song called "Preciso Dizer que Te Amo" (I Need to Say I Love You) with Bebel Gilberto. It was released in 1986. After he passed away, the song was featured as a duet with Bebel Gilberto on the 1996 album Red Hot + Rio.
Final Years and Legacy
In 1989, Cazuza publicly shared that he was living with AIDS. He released his last album during his lifetime, called Burguesia. Cazuza was open about his health, and this helped change how people thought about AIDS prevention and treatment in Brazil.
Cazuza passed away in Rio de Janeiro on July 7, 1990, when he was 32 years old. He was buried at the Cemitério São João Batista in Rio de Janeiro. After his death, Cazuza's mother created the Viva Cazuza Society (Sociedade Viva Cazuza). This charity helps prevent AIDS and provides a home for children living with HIV.
Other Works and Tributes
In 2004, a movie about Cazuza's life was released. It was called Cazuza: O Tempo não Para ("Cazuza: Time Doesn't Stop"). Daniel de Oliveira played Cazuza in the film.
In 2014, a musical about Cazuza, called Cazuza – Pro Dia Nascer Feliz, opened in São Paulo. It included songs from his solo career and his time with Barão Vermelho. The musical, starring Emílio Dantas, toured Brazil for two years.
On April 4, 2016, Google honored Cazuza's 58th birthday with a special drawing on their homepage, called a Google Doodle.
Cazuza's Music Albums
With Barão Vermelho
- 1982: Barão Vermelho (Sold 120,000 copies – Gold record)
- 1983: Barão Vermelho 2 (Sold 180,000 copies – Gold record)
- 1984: Bete Balanço (Original Soundtrack)
- 1984: Maior Abandonado (Sold 800,000 copies – Platinum record)
- 1992: Barão Vermelho Ao Vivo (Live album)
Solo Albums
- 1985: Exagerado (Sold 750,000 copies – Double Platinum record)
- 1987: Só se for a dois (Sold 600,000 copies – Platinum record)
- 1988: Ideologia (Sold 2,000,000 copies – Diamond record)
- 1988: O tempo não pára (Sold 1,800,000 copies – Diamond record)
- 1989: Burguesia (Sold 850,000 copies – Double Platinum record)
- 1991: Por aí (Sold 600,000 copies – Platinum record)
- 2005: O Poeta Está Vivo – Ao Vivo no Teatro Ipanema 1987 (Sold 250,000 copies – Platinum record)
Films Featuring Cazuza
- Bete Balanço, 1984
- Um Trem para as Estrelas, 1988
- Cazuza - O Tempo Não Pára, 2004 (a movie about his life)
Images for kids
-
Cazuza
See also
In Spanish: Cazuza para niños
