Luiz Melodia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luiz Melodia
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Melodia, 2015
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Luiz Carlos dos Santos |
| Also known as | Estácio's Poet |
| Born | 7 January 1951 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Died | 4 August 2017 (aged 66) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Genres | Música popular brasileira, Samba, Soul music |
| Occupation(s) | singer-songwriter, actor |
| Instruments | acoustic guitar, piano |
| Years active | 1963–2017 |
Luiz Carlos dos Santos (born January 7, 1951 – died August 4, 2017), known as Luiz Melodia, was a famous Brazilian singer and songwriter. His music was a cool mix of different styles. These included Música popular brasileira (MPB), rock, blues, soul music, and samba. Many people called him one of Brazil's most important musicians.
Luiz Melodia was the son of Oswaldo 'Melodia', who loved samba music. Luiz took his father's nickname as his stage name. He grew up in a morro, which is a hillside neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. This area, called Estácio, is known as the "Birthplace of Samba."
His first album, Pérola negra (Black Pearl), came out in 1973. In 1977, he married Jane Reis, who was also a singer and music producer. Their son, Mahal Reis, became a rapper. Luiz also had another son, Iran, from an earlier relationship.
During his career, Melodia released many albums. He performed a lot in Brazil and Europe. He sang in France and Switzerland in 1987. In 1992, he played at a music festival in France. He also performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2004. In 2012, Melodia went on a big tour in Europe. He played in cities like London, Paris, and Berlin. He also visited Denmark, Switzerland, and Portugal.
In 2015, Melodia won the Best Singer award at the Brazilian Music Prize. After he passed away, the prize honored his life's work. Famous singers like Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia performed his songs. He was ranked among the best Brazilian musicians and voices.
Melodia admired jazz musicians like Chet Baker and John Coltrane. He was also proud of his Black heritage. Besides music, he worked as an actor for a short time.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Luiz Carlos dos Santos was born in the Estácio neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. This was on January 7, 1951. His father, Oswaldo, was a government worker and loved playing samba music. His mother, Eurídice, was a seamstress. Luiz first learned about music from his father. He would watch his dad play the viola, a type of guitar. Luiz would try to play it too.
Luiz loved music so much that he decided not to go to college, even though his father wanted him to. In 1963, he started his music career with his friend Walmir Lucena. Luiz worked different day jobs, like a typographer or salesperson. He also played music in nightclubs.
After leaving middle school, Luiz spent his teenage years writing songs. He also played hits from music styles like Jovem Guarda and Bossa Nova. He had a band called Os Instantâneos (The Swift Boys). Later, he was in another band called Os Filhos do Sol (The Sons of the Sun). They would play music to make parties fun. Soon, people connected to the music scene, like poet Waly Salomão and journalist Torquato Neto, helped Melodia get noticed by the music industry.
The 1970s: First Hits and Albums
Thanks to Salomão and Neto, Melodia met singer Gal Costa. He offered her his song Presente cotidiano (My everyday present). But because of government censorship at the time, she couldn't sing it in her concerts. However, Gal Costa recorded another of his songs, Pérola negra (Black Pearl). She recorded it live for her album -Fa-Tal- Gal a Todo Vapor. This song quickly became a big hit.
In 1972, another singer, Maria Bethânia, recorded Melodia's song Estácio, holly Estácio. This song was a tribute to his birthplace, Estácio.
In 1973, Luiz Melodia, using his stage name, released his first album, pt:Pérola negra (álbum) (Black Pearl). pt:Rolling Stone Brasil magazine called it a "contemporary wonder" and a "masterpiece." This album is often listed as one of the best in Brazilian music history. The main song, Pérola negra, was a sad love song that became a classic for Melodia.
Some critics saw Melodia as an "accursed" artist. This was probably because he didn't just follow the rules. He said, "We weren't people that simply obeyed. We broke away from situations that weren't convenient. I have always believed in what I do."
In 1975, Melodia's song Ébano (Ebony) reached the finals of a singing contest called Festival Abertura. Members of the band Banda Black Rio and keyboardist Jose Roberto Bertrami played with him.
His next album, Maravilhas contemporâneas (Contemporary Wonders) (1976), became popular. This was because the song Juventude transviada (Deviant Youth) was used in the TV show Pecado Capital.
Starting in 1977, Melodia joined Projeto Pixinguinha. He toured Brazil with singers like Zezé Motta and Marina Lima. His album Mico de Circo came out in 1978 and was also very important.
The 1980s and 1990s: More Albums and Tours
Between 1980 and 1991, Melodia released four albums: Nós (We) (1980), Felino (Feline) (1983), Claro (Of Course) (1985), and Pintando o sete (Fooling Around) (1991). On Pintando o sete, he sang a version of the hit song pt:Codinome Beija-Flor (I Go by Hummingbird). This song was made famous by singer Cazuza. In 1991, this song was also used in another TV show, Dono do mundo (Owner of the World).
In 1995, he released Relíquias (Mementos). That same year, he appeared on the album Guitarra brasileira (Brazilian Guitar) by Renato Piau.
In 1997, Melodia released 14 Quilates (14-carat). The next year, he was on a tribute album for pt:Sérgio Sampaio. In 1999, he released a live acoustic album called Luiz Melodia: acústico, ao vivo. This album led to a concert tour the next year.
The 2000s: New Projects and Collaborations
In 2001, Melodia released Retrato do artista quando coisa (Portrait of the Artist as a Thing). His son Mahal appeared on the song Lorena. The album's title was inspired by a book by James Joyce.
In 2002, Melodia released a CD and DVD set called Luiz Melodia convida – ao vivo (Luiz Melodia and Guests—Live). It was recorded in Rio de Janeiro. Many famous artists joined him, including Zeca Pagodinho, Zezé Motta, Luciana Mello, and Elza Soares. The set also had a special duet with Gal Costa.
He performed at pt:Parque dos Patins in 2005. That same year, he was on an album called Um pouco de mim – Sergio Natureza e amigos (A Little Bit About Me—Sergio Natureza & Friends). In 2006, he performed at Teatro Rival in Rio. He also appeared on the cover of Carioquice magazine.
Melodia started a samba project in 2006. This led to a concert and the album Estação Melodia (Melodia Station) (2007). It also became a special show for MTV Brasil. In 2008, he won the Prêmio Rival (Rival Award).
Later Years and Zerima (2014)
In 2011, Melodia was a guest on the album Purabossanova by Titãs band member Sérgio Britto. In 2013, he held more concerts at Teatro Rival. That same year, a special CD box set was released. It was called Três tons de Luiz Melodia (Three Shades of Luiz Melodia). It included three of his albums from different decades: Pérola negra (1973), Felino (1983), and Pintando o sete (1991).
In 2014, Melodia released his 13th album, pt:Zerima. He released it during a concert at Teatro Rival. Zerima is the name of his sister, Marize, spelled backward. She had passed away two years before. This album was his first new music in 13 years. On Zerima, Melodia went back to his samba and bossa nova roots. New songs included Cheia de Graça (Full of Grace) and Dor de carnaval (Carnival Heartache), which featured singer-songwriter Céu.
Melodia felt that his success, while good, didn't fully show the quality of his music. He once said, "Other musicians don't get it [why he wasn't more famous]. Djavan said it once, and so did Caetano Veloso. It's a puzzle to many people. I don't really get it myself." He also felt he didn't get enough support from record labels.
Order of Cultural Merit
In 2011, Luiz Melodia received the Ordem do Mérito Cultural (Order of Cultural Merit). This is a special award for people who have done great things in culture.
Death
Luiz Melodia passed away on August 4, 2017. He was 66 years old. He died in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro from bone marrow cancer.
Discography
- Pérola negra (1973)
- Maravilhas contemporâneas (1976)
- Mico de circo (1978)
- Nós (1980)
- Felino (1983)
- Claro (1988)
- Pintando o sete (1991)
- Relíquias (1995)
- 14 Quilates (1997)
- Acústico ao vivo (1999)
- Luiz Melodia convida – DVD (2003)
- Estação Melodia (2007)
- Zerima (2014)
Images for kids
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Melodia, 2015
