Biography
Who is Chico Buarque?
Early life and background
Chico Buarque was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 19, 1944. He grew up in an intellectually active household. His father, Sérgio Buarque de Hollanda, was a well-known historian and sociologist. His mother, Maria Amélia Cesário Alvim, was a pianist and painter. He has several siblings, including Ana de Hollanda, Cristina Buarque, and Miúcha.
As a child, he lived in various places, including Rome and São Paulo. He developed an early interest in music after hearing the bossa nova work of João Gilberto and Tom Jobim. Beyond music, he enjoyed playing football from a young age and continued the sport well into his 60s. He also showed an interest in literature and wrote his first short story by the age of 18.
Rise to musical fame
Chico made his public debut as a composer and musician in 1964. He quickly established a reputation within the music festival circuit and on various television shows. His debut album featured sambas that showed his skill for wordplay and melancholic themes. In 1966, he achieved his first major hit with the song A Banda, which depicted a marching band.
While he gained popularity, some contemporaries like Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil criticized his style for being too conservative. Despite this, he continued to look at genres such as samba, bossa nova, and música popular brasileira throughout his career. At one point, he studied architecture at the University of São Paulo, though he eventually abandoned his studies to focus on his music career.
Activism and artistic resistance
Chico frequently used his art to comment on the Brazilian military dictatorship. His 1968 play Roda Viva drew negative attention from the military government, leading to his brief imprisonment. In 1970, he moved to Italy for 18 months before returning to Brazil. Upon his return, he continued to write and perform, often facing government censorship.
He famously released the protest song Apesar de Você, which the censors initially missed. It became a significant anthem for the democratic movement before the government eventually banned it. When censors later banned all of his songs in 1974, he adopted the pseudonym Julinho de Adelaide. Under this name, he released tracks like Jorge Maravilha and Acorda Amor. He also wrote the play Calabar, which used the Dutch invasion of Brazil to draw parallels to the political climate of his own time.
Literary achievements and awards
Beyond his musical output, he has written several novels. His book Budapeste won the Prêmio Jabuti, a prestigious Brazilian literary award. He also published other works such as Leite Derramado, which was shortlisted for the São Paulo Prize for Literature. In 2013, he received the Casa de las Américas prize for his fiction writing.
His contributions to culture have been recognized with numerous accolades. He was awarded the Camões Prize in 2019, which is a major literary honor for the Portuguese language. Also, he has received the Latin Grammy Award for Best MPB Album and the Order of Cultural Merit. His 2017 album, Caravanas, was also highly regarded by critics.
Birthday and age
Chico Buarque was born on June 19, 1944, which makes Chico 82 years old today. That birthday falls under the Gemini sign. Chico shares the date with 37 other famous people.
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