Ciro Pessoa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ciro Pessoa
Pessoa performing at the Ibirapuera Auditorium in 2010
Background information
Birth name	Ciro Pessoa Mendes Corrêa
Also known as	Tenzin Chöpel
Born	(1957-06-12)June 12, 1957 São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Died	May 5, 2020(2020-05-05) (aged 62) São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Genres	Pop rock, post-punk, psychedelic rock
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, lyricist, guitarist, screenwriter, journalist, poet
Instruments	Vocals, classical guitar, electric guitar
Years active	1981–2020
Labels	Voiceprint Records, Rosa Celeste
Associated acts	Titãs, Os Jetsons, Ricotas do Harlem, Cabine C, Ira!, CPSP, Ciro Pessoa & Ventilador, Nu Descendo a Escada, Flying Chair

Ciro Pessoa Mendes Corrêa (born June 12, 1957 – died May 5, 2020) was a talented Brazilian artist. He was a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and writer. Ciro was best known for helping start the famous rock band Titãs. He also played a big part in the post-punk and gothic rock band Cabine C. Later in his career, he started his own music projects. He was also known by his spiritual name, Tenzin Chöpel.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Ciro Pessoa was born in São Paulo, Brazil, on June 12, 1957. He started learning to play the classical guitar when he was seven years old. By the age of 12, he was already performing at music festivals.

As a teenager, Ciro went to Colégio Equipe. There, he met other young musicians who would become famous. These friends included Arnaldo Antunes, Paulo Miklos, Nando Reis, Marcelo Fromer, Branco Mello, Tony Bellotto, and Sérgio Britto.

Ciro Pessoa's Music Career

Ciro Pessoa had a long and varied career in music. He was part of several bands and also released solo albums.

Starting with Titãs

In 1981, Ciro and his friends from school, along with André Jung, formed a rock band. They called themselves Titãs do Iê-Iê, which was later shortened to just Titãs. Ciro helped write some of the band's most famous songs. These include "Sonífera Ilha", "Toda Cor", "Homem Primata", and "Babi Índio".

Even though he helped write these hits, Ciro never recorded an album with Titãs. He left the band in 1983 because of creative differences. After leaving Titãs, Ciro formed two short-lived bands: Os Jetsons and Ricotas do Harlem. Neither of these bands released any music.

Forming Cabine C

In 1984, Ciro Pessoa started Cabine C. This band became one of Brazil's first and most well-known gothic rock groups. He formed it with his wife at the time, Wania Forghieri, and other musicians like Edgard Scandurra from Ira!.

Cabine C released their first and only album, Fósforos de Oxford, in 1986. Critics and fans liked the album, but it did not sell many copies. The band broke up in 1987 due to problems with their record label.

Music in the 1990s

During the 1990s, Ciro wrote songs for other bands, including Ira!. He also formed a new band called Ciro Pessoa e Seu Pessoal (CPSP) in 1990. This band had a brighter, more pop rock sound. They toured a lot but never released an album.

Later in the 1990s, Ciro formed another band called Ciro Pessoa & Ventilador. They also played pop rock with some experimental touches. They recorded an album called Batuca Aqui in 1996, but it was not released until 2019.

Solo Work and Other Projects

In 2001, Ciro Pessoa and Branco Mello worked together on a children's concept album. It was called Eu e Meu Guarda-Chuva and was about a boy and his umbrella. The album was later turned into a book and a movie.

Ciro started his solo music career in 2003. He released his first solo album, No Meio da Chuva Eu Grito "Help". In 2010, he released his second album, Em Dia com a Rebeldia. This album had a very psychedelic and experimental sound. Ciro wanted it to sound like the 1960s and 1970s bands he loved, such as The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Os Mutantes, and Pink Floyd.

In the mid-2010s, Ciro Pessoa started sharing his thoughts on Brazilian politics. He often did video chats with other musicians and journalists. In 2015, he released his first book, Relatos da Existência Caótica. It was a collection of poems he had written earlier in his life.

In 2016, Ciro formed his last music project, Flying Chair. They released several EPs and a full album. Their final release was a single in 2018.

Personal Life and Beliefs

In the late 1990s, Ciro Pessoa became a Vajrayana Buddhist. He received the spiritual name Tenzin Chöpel. He often used this name when signing articles he wrote for magazines and newspapers.

Ciro was married twice. From the 1980s to the 1990s, he was married to Wania Forghieri, his bandmate from Cabine C. In 2011, he married Isabela Johansen, and they had a daughter named Antônia in 2013. They divorced in 2016.

Death

Ciro Pessoa passed away on May 5, 2020. He had been receiving treatment for cancer and contracted COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

Discography

With Cabine C

With Flying Chair

Solo