Caetano Veloso

is one of the most important figures in contemporary Brazilian music. His works, poetic and polemic, are considered true masterpieces. As Caetano says, "I make my records as a painter would paint his canvas". In fact, he makes every melody he sings sound luminous and newly discovered.

Caetano Veloso was born in a small town in the northern state of Bahia in 1942. Soon after his family moved to Salvador, where he spent his youth and studied at the University of Arts.

At the end of 1966 he accompanied his sister Maria Bethania, who had been invited to play at a musical play, to Rio do Janeiro and he got his first hits when his sister recorded his first compositions. Soon he won several prizes and recorded his first album with Gal Costa "Domingo"

In 1968, with Gilberto Gil, he was one of the primary architects of Tropicalismo, a cultural movement whose aim was the reevaluation of traditional Brazilian music and the incorporation of non-Brazilian musical styles. He recorded his first individual album Caetano Veloso and his music crossed the borders with his controverted music E Proibido Proibir. He was awarded several prizes at several TV Festivals.

In 1969 he performed with Gilberto Gil at Castro Alves Theater in Salvador and the concert was recorded live. Barra 69 was the album. However in the same year Caetano and Gil were forced to leave the country by the military regime and went to live in London. There, they soaked up the era's psychedelic rock while sending songs back to Brazil to be recorded by singers like Gal Costa, Maria Bethania, Elis Regina, Roberto Carlos. He recorded his first album in English and performed in several European cities.

He returned to Brazil in 1972 and his audience continued to grow. Another album Transa was released and he performed in several cities and other album was recorded alive, this time with Chico Buarque: caetano e Chico Juntos a ao Vivo.

Several albums were released the following years: Araca Azul in 1974, Temporada de Verao in 1974, Joia and Qualquer Coisa in 1975.

In 1976 he teamed up with Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa and Maria Bethania toured Brazil under the name of Doces Barbaros, An album and a film were released.

Bicho was released in 1977 and the hot rhythm of the sweet melodies of this album had the influence of the contact he had with the Nigerian culture, where he had been months before. The same year Alegria, Alegria was published, a book which is a collection of articles and poems of the years 1965 to 1976.

During the 1970's and 80's his music reasserted its sinuous, harmonically sophisticated tunefulness after his flirtation with blunt rock-and-roll, while his lyrics grew more associative and imagistic, blending an embracing romanticism with glimpses of stark clarity. The albums released were: Muito in 1978, Maria Bethania & Caetano Veloso in 1978, Cinema Transcendental in 1979, Outras Palavras in 1981, Cores Nomes in l982, Uns in 1983, Velo in 1984, Totalmente Demais in 1986 and Caetano in 1987.

Estrangeiro released in 1989, is a natural follow up to what he had been doing all along in Brazil, mixing of old fashioned Brazilian and South American things with new rock and new Brazilian things mostly Bossa Nova.

Caetano Veloso, his first U S album released in 1987, was a selection of his songs from the two previous decades. Backed only by his own acoustic guitar, his voice, tender but sure had the sound of a poet ruminating over his past, examining it with affection and curiosity.

In 1991 a new album was released Circulado. The music which gave name to the album is a poem by a Brazilian concrete poet, Harol do Campos. The cover design was a creation of Caetano, Circulado Vivo, released in l992 is a master piece. Making a story of each song he sings, Michael Jackson's Black or White or Dylan's Jokerman with a practical feeling no one has ever listened, he shifts from bossa-nova to tango tailoring his interpretations with a skill of a genius. The Circulado tour was one of the most important and beautiful concerts he did and became a home-video.

In 1993 was released Tropicalia 2 with Gilberto Gil. A celebration of 25 years of Tropicalia and 30 years of friendship of both genius. A new record, a new book are some of the projects of Caetano this year.

1967 - Domingo (polygram)
1968 - Caetano Veloso (polygram)
1969 - Caetano Veloso (polygram)
l971 - caetano Veloso (polygram)
1971 - Barra 69 (polygram)
l972 - Transa (polygram)
1972 - Caetano e Chico Juntos e ao Vivo (polygram)
1973 - Araca AZul (polygram)
1974 - Temporada de Verao (polygram)
l975 - Joia (Polygram)
1975 - Qualquer Coisa (Polygram)
1976 - Doces Barbaros (polygram)
l977 - Bicho (Polygram)
1977 - Muitos carnavais (polygram)
1978 - Muito (Dentro da Estrela Azulada) (polygram)
1976 - Maria Bethania & Caetano Veloso ao Vivo (Polygram)
1979 - Cinema Transcendental (polygram)
1981 - Outras Palavras (polygram)
1982 - Cores Nomes (polygram)
1983 - Uns (polygram)
1984 - Velo (polygram)
l986 - Totalmente Demais (polygram)
1987 - Caetano (polygram)
1989 - Estrangeiro (polygram)
1990 - Caetano Veloso (polygram)
1991 - Circulado (polygram)
1992 - circulado vivo (polygram)
1993 - Tropicalia 2 (polygram/Warner)