Guinga facts for kids

Guinga (born Carlos Althier de Souza Lemos Escobar on June 10, 1950) is a famous Brazilian guitarist and composer. He was born in Madureira, a working-class area of Rio de Janeiro. When he was a child, people called him "Gringo" because of his light skin. His artistic name, "Guinga," came from how he said that word.

Guinga's Early Life and Music

Guinga's uncle taught him to play the guitar when he was eleven years old. Guinga began writing his own music at the age of 14. When he was 17, in 1967, one of his songs, "Sou Só Solidão," was part of a big music festival called Festival Internacional da Canção. At 26, he started studying classical guitar for five years with Jodacil Damasceno.

During the 1970s, Guinga played guitar for famous singers like Beth Carvalho and João Nogueira. He also recorded music with samba legends Cartola and Clara Nunes. Around this time, he started working with the poet and lyricist Paulo Cesar Pinheiro. Together, they wrote many songs that were recorded by important artists such as Elis Regina, Nelson Gonçalves, Miúcha, Clara Nunes, and Michel Legrand.

For almost 30 years, Guinga also worked as a dentist. His music career really took off in 1990. That year, Ivan Lins and Vitor Martins created a music label called Velas. They did this to release Guinga's first album. This album featured songs he wrote with lyricist Aldir Blanc.

Guinga is well-known for his songwriting and his amazing guitar skills. He uses many different music styles in his songs. These include choro, samba, baião, frevo, modinha, waltz, foxtrot, blues, classical music, and jazz. His songs often have complex harmonies and rhythms, but they are also very melodic and easy to enjoy.

Guinga's Albums

Here are some of the albums Guinga has released:

• Simples e Absurdo (1991)
• Delírio Carioca (1993)
• Cheio de Dedos (1996)
• Suíte Leopoldina (1999)
• Cine Baronesa (2001)
• A Música Brasileira deste Século por seus Autores e Intérpretes: Guinga (2002)
• Noturno Copacabana (2003)
• Graffiando Vento - Guinga & Gabriele Mirabassi (2004)
• Dialetto Carioca (2007)
• Casa de Villa (2007)
• Saudade do Cordão - Guinga & Paulo Sérgio Santos (2009)
• Rasgando Seda - Guinga & Quinteto Villa-Lobos (2012)
• Francis e Guinga - Guinga & Francis Hime (2013)
• Roendopinho (2014)
• Porto da Madama - Guinga & Maria João, Esperanza Spalding, Maria Pia De Vito and Monica Salmaso (2015)
• Mar Afora - Guinga & Maria João (2015)
• Dobrando a Carioca - Guinga & Zé Renato, Jards Macalé, Moacyr Luz (2016)
• Canção da Impermanência (2017)
• Intimidade - Guinga & Stefania Tallini (piano) (2017)
• Avenida Atlântica - Guinga & Quarteto Carlos Gomes (2017)
• Guinga Invites Gabriel Mirabassi—Passos e Assovio - Guinga & Gabriel Mirabassi (2018)
• Japan Tour 2019 - Guinga & Mônica Salmaso, Teco Cardoso & Neilor Proveta (2021)
• Zaboio (2021)
• Você, Você - Anna Paes Canta Guinga - Guinga & Anna Paes (2022)
• Milton + esperanza - Milton Nascimento and Esperanza Spalding (2024)

Other Music Projects

Guinga has also been a contributing artist on other albums:

• Bolero de Satá (Nina Ripe & Guinga) - Nina Ripe: Apaixonada (2011)
• The Rough Guide to the Music of Brazil (1998)

You can also listen to a special radio program about him:

• Especial Guinga 70 anos - RÁDIO CÂMARA, October 31, 2020

See also

In Spanish: Guinga para niños