Roberto Carlos (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roberto Carlos
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Roberto Carlos in 2018
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Roberto Carlos Braga |
| Born | 19 April 1941 |
| Origin | Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espírito Santo, Brazil |
| Genres | Jovem Guarda, MPB |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1951–present |
Roberto Carlos Braga (born April 19, 1941) is a famous Brazilian singer and songwriter. Many people call him "King of Latin Music" or simply "the King." He wrote most of his popular songs with his good friend Erasmo Carlos. Roberto Carlos has sold over 70 million albums around the world. He is one of the most important artists in Brazil. Many other musicians say he inspired them.
Contents
Roberto Carlos's Early Life
Roberto Carlos Braga was born in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, a city in Brazil. He was the youngest of four children. His father was a watchmaker, and his mother was a seamstress. They lived in a small house on a hill.
When Roberto was six years old, he had an accident. A train hit him, and he lost part of his right leg. He uses a special leg (a prosthesis) but prefers not to talk about the accident.
As a child, he learned to play the guitar and piano. His mother taught him first, then he went to a music school. At age nine, he sang for the first time on a radio show for children. He sang a song called "Mal Amor" and won candies as a prize! He later said he was nervous but very happy to sing on the radio. He became a regular singer on that show.
Roberto Carlos's Music Career
Starting Out in the 1960s
Roberto Carlos loved Elvis Presley and the new rock music of the 1950s. He became a big star in a music style called Jovem Guarda, which means "Young Guard." This was the first time Brazilian pop rock became popular. Because of this, people started calling Roberto Carlos "O Rei," which means "The King."
At first, his songs didn't sell well. But then, in 1962, he released a song called Splish Splash. With his friend Erasmo Carlos, Roberto sang Portuguese versions of pop songs. They also wrote their own hits, like "Parei Na Contramão." Soon, he had many popular songs. This was the start of the Jovem Guarda TV show.
The Jovem Guarda Era
In 1965, Roberto Carlos started hosting the Jovem Guarda TV show. He hosted it with Erasmo Carlos and Wanderléa. This show made pop rock even more popular in Brazil. Roberto became one of the first big idols for young Brazilians. That same year, he released albums with many hits. Songs like "Quero Que Vá Tudo Pro Inferno" and "Lobo Mau" became very famous.
In 1966, Roberto and Erasmo had a disagreement. It almost ended their friendship and their songwriting partnership. The problem was about who got credit for their songs. They stopped working together for over a year. During this time, Roberto wrote songs like "Namoradinha de Um Amigo Meu."
In 1967, their friendship got better. Roberto wrote new hits like "Como É Grande Meu Amor Por Você." These songs were part of the album Roberto Carlos em Ritmo de Aventura. This album was also the soundtrack for a movie where Roberto Carlos was the main actor. The movie was a huge success in Brazil. Erasmo helped Roberto finish the lyrics for a song called "Eu Sou Terrível." This brought their partnership back to life. Later that year, Roberto performed in other countries for the first time.
In 1968, he released the album O Inimitável. This album had a new sound, influenced by American soul and funk music. It included hits like "Se Você Pensa" and "Eu Te Amo, Te Amo, Te Amo." Later that year, Roberto Carlos won the Festival of San Remo in Italy. He was the first and only Brazilian to win this award. In 1969, Roberto's music became more romantic. His album that year had famous songs like "As Curvas da Estrada De Santos" and "Sua Estupidez." He also starred in his second movie, Roberto Carlos e o Diamante Cor-de-rosa, which was another box office hit.
Success in the 1970s and 1980s
The 1970s were a big time for Roberto Carlos. He became a very popular romantic singer in Brazil and around the world. He sold more albums than any other artist in Brazil. Many of his songs were sung by other famous artists like Julio Iglesias. In 1970, he released his yearly album with hits like "Ana" and "Jesus Cristo." This song showed his growing interest in religion.
In 1971, his last movie, Roberto Carlos a 300 km Por Hora, was released and was very popular. His album that year had famous songs like "Detalhes" and "Amada Amante." In 1972, his album was the first to sell over one million copies. It featured songs like "A Montanha."
On December 24, 1974, TV Globo aired a special show with Roberto Carlos. It was so popular that it became a yearly tradition. Every year, at the end of December, Roberto Carlos hosts a special TV show. He sings his greatest hits with special guests.
In 1978, his album sold 1.5 million copies. It included songs like "Café da Manhã" and "Lady Laura," which he dedicated to his mother. Roberto Carlos also toured Brazil for six months, and his shows were always full. When Pope John Paul II visited Mexico in 1979, a children's choir sang Roberto's song "Amigo" to greet him. This was seen by millions of people worldwide.
In the early 1980s, Roberto Carlos started touring internationally. He recorded albums in English, Spanish, Italian, and French. He won the Globo de Cristal award for selling over five million albums outside Brazil. His songs continued to break records in Brazil. For example, his song Caminhoneiro was played on the radio 3,000 times in one day!
In 1985, he sang in a special song called Cantarê, cantarás to help children in Latin America. Other stars like Julio Iglesias and Gloria Estefan also sang on it. In 1988, he won a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album. The next year, his song "Amazonia" reached the top of the Billboard Latin charts.
The 1990s and 2000s
Roberto Carlos kept recording romantic songs in the 1990s. In 1992, he got his name on the Latin artist Walk of Fame in Miami. By 1994, he had sold over 70 million records, even more than the Beatles in Latin America! In 1996, he had another hit song with Erasmo Carlos called Mulher de 40. He also sang "Puedes Llegar" with other stars like Julio Iglesias and Ricky Martin. This song was the theme for the Atlanta Olympics.
In 1998, Roberto Carlos's second wife, Maria Rita, became very ill. He took a break from music to support her. She passed away in 1999. After this sad time, Roberto Carlos returned to recording and performing.
In 2004, he received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. This award honors artists who have made a big impact on music. In 2015, he was named the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year.
In 2006, he released a CD and DVD called "Duetos." It featured special moments from his TV shows since the 1970s. He also won another Latin Grammy for his 2005 album. Around this time, a book about him was published without his permission. Roberto Carlos did not like the book and had it removed from stores. He wanted to protect his privacy.
In 2007, Roberto Carlos recorded his first Spanish album in ten years. He also performed a concert where he sang "É Preciso Saber Viver." For a long time, he had avoided singing a part of this song due to a personal challenge he faced. But he decided to sing the full song again.
The house where Roberto Carlos was born has been turned into a museum. It tells the story of his life and career.
In 2008, Roberto Carlos performed a special show with Caetano Veloso to honor Antonio Carlos Jobim. This show was released as a CD and DVD. In 2009, he started a tour to celebrate 50 years of his career. His first concert was in his hometown on his 68th birthday. Many famous singers also performed in a show called "They sing Roberto – DIVAS" to celebrate him.
2010s to Today
In 2010, Roberto Carlos's mother, Laura Moreira Braga, passed away at age 96. He received the news just minutes after a concert in New York City.
Through the 2010s, Roberto Carlos continued his popular cruise ship concert project called "Emoções em Alto Mar" (Emotions in the High Seas). In 2011, he also held a concert in Jerusalem called "Emoções em Jerusalem."
In 2011, a samba school called Beija-Flor honored Roberto Carlos in the Carnival parade.
In 2013, his song "Esse Cara Sou Eu" won the Best Brazilian Song. It was also nominated for Song of the Year. In 2015, he received the Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award. He also received the Excellence Award in 2019.
Celebrating 50 Years of Music
On July 11, 2009, Roberto Carlos celebrated 50 years in music. He performed a huge concert at Maracanã Stadium in Brazil. About 70,000 people came to watch his first show in that stadium.
His 50th career anniversary was also celebrated with a big exhibition in São Paulo. This interactive show, which opened in 2010, showed his life and career. A young poet named Gabriel Ataide Lima said that Roberto Carlos taught him that "poetry has to be sweet, pure, direct, and lively." He learned to sing about love, nature, religion, and peace from Roberto Carlos.
Roberto Carlos's Albums
Most of Roberto Carlos's albums are in Portuguese. He also has songs in Spanish, English, and Italian. Many of his albums are simply named "Roberto Carlos," so we've added a famous song from each one.
- 1961 - Louco Por Você
- 1963 - Splish Splash
- 1964 - É Proibido Fumar
- 1965 - Canta Para a Juventude
- 1965 - Canta a la Juventud
- 1965 - Jovem Guarda
- 1966 - Roberto Carlos ("Eu Te Darei O Céu")
- 1967 - Roberto Carlos em Ritmo de Aventura
- 1968 - O Inimitável
- 1969 - Roberto Carlos ("As Flores do Jardim da Nossa casa")
- 1970 - Roberto Carlos ("Ana")
- 1971 - Roberto Carlos ("Detalhes")
- 1972 - Roberto Carlos ("A Janela")
- 1972 - Un gato en la oscuridad
- 1973 - Roberto Carlos ("A Cigana")
- 1973 - En español ("La distancia")
- 1974 - Roberto Carlos ("Despedida")
- 1974 - El día que me quieras
- 1975 - Roberto Carlos ("Quero Que Va Tudo Pro Inferno")
- 1975 - Quiero verte a mi lado
- 1976 - Roberto Carlos ("Ilegal, Imoral ou Engorda")
- 1976 - San Remo 1968
- 1976 - Tu cuerpo
- 1977 - Roberto Carlos ("Amigo")
- 1977 - En español ("El progreso")
- 1978 - Roberto Carlos ("Fé")
- 1978 - Roberto Carlos ("Amigo (en español)")
- 1979 - Roberto Carlos ("Meu Querido, Meu Velho, Meu Amigo")
- 1979 - Roberto Carlos ("Fé (en español)")
- 1980 - Roberto Carlos ("A guerra dos meninos")
- 1980 - Mi querido, mi viejo, mi amigo
- 1981 - Roberto Carlos ("Ele está prá chegar")
- 1981 - La guerra de los niños
- 1982 - Roberto Carlos ("Amiga")
- 1982 - Roberto Carlos ("Emociones")
- 1983 - Roberto Carlos ("O Amor é a Moda")
- 1983 - Roberto Carlos ("Amiga (en español)")
- 1984 - Roberto Carlos ("Coração")
- 1984 - Roberto Carlos ("El amor y la moda")
- 1985 - Roberto Carlos ("Verde e Amarelo")
- 1985 - Roberto Carlos '85 ("Corazón")
- 1986 - Roberto Carlos ("Apocalipse")
- 1986 - Roberto Carlos '86 ("De corazón a corazón")
- 1987 - Roberto Carlos ("Tô chutando lata")
- 1987 - Nuestro amor
- 1988 - Roberto Carlos ("Se Diverte e Já Não Pensa em Mim")
- 1988 - Ao Vivo (live recording)
- 1988 - Volver
- 1989 - Roberto Carlos ("Amazônia")
- 1989 - Sonrie
- 1990 - Roberto Carlos ("Super herói")
- 1990 - Pajaro herido
- 1991 - Roberto Carlos ("Todas As Manhãs")
- 1991 - Roberto Carlos ("Súper héroe")
- 1992 - Roberto Carlos ("Você É Minha")
- 1993 - Roberto Carlos ("O Velho Caminhoneiro")
- 1993 - Roberto Carlos ("Mujer pequeña")
- 1994 - Roberto Carlos ("Alô")
- 1995 - Roberto Carlos ("Amigo Não Chore Por Ela")
- 1996 - Roberto Carlos ("Mulher de 40")
- 1997 - Canciones Que Amo
- 1998 - Roberto Carlos ("Meu Menino Jesus")
- 1999 - 30 Grandes Sucessos (Greatest Hits)
- 2000 - Mensagens
- 2000 - Amor Sem Limites
- 2000 - Grandes Canciones (2 CD's)
- 2001 - Acústico MTV (MTV Unplugged)
- 2002 - Ao Vivo (Live)
- 2003 - Pra Sempre
- 2004 - Pra Sempre Ao Vivo No Pacaembu (Live)
- 2004 - Mensajes de Fe
- 2005 - Roberto Carlos ("Promessa")
- 2006 - Duetos
- 2008 - En Vivo (Live in Spanish)
- 2008 - Roberto Carlos e Caetano Veloso e a música de Tom Jobim
- 2009 - Elas Cantam Roberto Carlos
- 2010 - Emoções Sertanejas
- 2011 - Projeto Emoções em Jerusalém (Live)
- 2012 - Esse Cara Sou Eu
- 2013 - Roberto Carlos Remixed
- 2014 - Duetos 2
- 2014 - Ese Tipo Soy Yo
- 2015 - Roberto Carlos em Las Vegas
- 2015 - Primera Fila (Live)
- 2017 - Roberto Carlos ("Chegaste")
- 2018 - Amor Sin Limite
Roberto Carlos's Movies
Roberto Carlos has starred in several movies:
Feature Films
- 1968 – Em Ritmo de Aventura
- 1970 – O Diamante Cor De Rosa
- 1971 – A 300 km Por Hora
Live Concert Films
- 2001 – Acústico MTV
- 2001 – Acústico Gold Serie Limitada
- 2004 – Pra Sempre Ao Vivo no Pacaembu
- 2006 – Antologia (CD + DVD)
- 2006 – Duetos
- 2008 – Roberto Carlos ao Vivo (CD + DVD)
See Also
- Getúlio Côrtes
- List of best-selling Latin music artists
- List of best-selling music artists
