Chico Cesar

Brazil picks its musical stars carefully. The big names, like Caetano Velso stay big for decades. But over the last five years, Chico Cesar has gone from complete unknown to being one of the most in-demand songwriters and performers in the country.

"Chico is such a mature songwriter," observed vocalist Vania Abreu, who has recorded his work. "The flowing of his melody and his unique view which blends his simple background with a sophisticated soul attracted me."

Now, with two albums out in the U.S., his 1995 debut Aos Vivos (Velas) and Chico Cesar (Putumayo), a compilation of his studio work, he's beginning to receive attention abroad.

"I write songs and I sing.It's what I do, it's all I've ever really loved to do."

"I write songs and I sing," the diminutive singer with the distinctive hairstyle explained. "It's what I do, it's all I've ever really loved to do."

Cesar, 36, was born in Catoléé do Rocha, Paraííba, in the rural Northeast of Brazil. The seventh son of a farmer and laundress, he was rescued from primitive poverty when he was seven by a scholarship to a school run by German nuns, where, he said, "I came into contact with European culture and music. They had an orchestra, and I learned to play the flute."

Not that life was much easier. At eight he was working after school in a record store, and living with the family that owned the place. It was child labor, but a job that opened his ears not only to Brazil's budding tropicalia movement, but also the Beatles and Rolling Stones.

After composing his first song at 12, the music bug bit deep. But he went on and obtained a degree in journalism. Moving to the big city of Sao Paolo in 1985, he wrote and "I played two or three gigs a month, for no money. I never did cover songs; it was always my own material, which made things a lot harder."

Cesar's epiphany came in 1991. Invited to do a small tour of Germany, he went over well and realized "if I can do it in Germany, I can do it in Brazil. So I decided to do music full-time."

But it wasn't until he put out the stripped-down Aos Vivos himself that people noticed him. With its mix of reggae and Bahian rhythms, it immediately made a splash, with the song "Mama Africa" becoming a national hit. In 1996 the album was awarded the Prêmio Sharp award for best regional discovery.

"When I'd done it, I sent copies to a lot of other artists," he recalled. "They liked the songs, and they came to me." Among them was axe superstar Daniela Mercury, who recorded "A Primeira Vista," which made Cesar's reputation nationally when it was used as the theme for O Rei do Gado (The King of the Herd), a Brazilian soap opera. In the wake of that, others have flooded to him for songs. Abreu, Mercury's sister, snatched up "Templo," also off Aos Vivos, for her debut album, Vania Abreu.

" "Templo" is a love song about the peace in love," she said. "I like singing about both the sadness and the peace in love but there are only a few songs that sing the peaceful part of love and this is one."

And he has plenty of them, since "I have around 300 songs I've written but never recorded." Cesar's subsequent studio albums have had more lavish instrumentation, and showcases his love of so many musical styles, be it a roots reggae remake of "Mama Africa" or the bass-heavy Brazilian funk of "You, Yuri."

However, on his latest Brazilian disc, Mama Mundi, he's returned to an acoustic sound. "It's a quieter album," Cesar said, "just me, bass, and percussion, plus a lot of strings. I was ready to do something different, and explore other sides of my music."

One thing he didn't do was write new songs specifically for the record. Some of the tracks were more than 10 years old. "I record old songs of mine. It's as if I have a vault inside, and I'll look in there to see what songs will work together." And, of course, he's constantly writing, sometimes a song a day, with the melody first, followed by the lyrics, his proven method. "What can I say?" he laughed. "I love music, all music. It just runs through me."

This article first appeared on Sonicnet.com

Chico Cesar

"I write songs and I sing.It's what I do, it's all I've ever really loved to do."

Related Articles in the 'South American Artists' Category...