Luiz Melodia

Brazilian musician (1951–2017)

Luiz Carlos dos Santos (7 January 1951 – 4 August 2017), widely known by his stage name Luiz Melodia, was a Brazilian singer songwriter whose music was a characteristic crossover of multiple Music genres including Música popular brasileira (MPB), rock music, blues, soul music and samba. He has been described as 'one of the most important Brazilian born musicians.' Son of samba music dilettante Oswaldo 'Melodia' (whose epithet he took on as a stage name), Melodia grew up on a morro (a slum that stretches over a hillside, typical of Rio de Janeiro) in the Estácio district—often referred to as the 'Birthplace [or cradle] of Samba'. Melodia's first LP record, Pérola negra (Black Pearl), was released in 1973. He married fellow singer songwriter and record producer Jane Reis, a Bahia native, in 1977; their only son, rapper Mahal Reis, was born in 1980. Melodia had another son, Iran, from a previous relationship. Over the course of his career, Melodia released several studio albums and performed extensively in both Brazil and Europe. In 1987, he sang in Châteauvallon, France, and Bern, Switzerland. In 1992, he appeared at the III Folcalquier Music Festival, again in France, and, in 2004, at the Montreux Jazz Festival. In 2012, Melodia went on a big band tour throughout Europe, having performed in a number of cities including London, Paris and Berlin. He also played in Denmark, Switzerland and Portugal. In 2015, Melodia was awarded Best Singer in the 26th Prêmio da Música Brasileira (Brazilian Music Prize). The 29th edition of the prize saw a posthumous tribute to his life's work, with the likes of Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia, among several others, performing famous Melodia songs.

Melodia was born Luiz Carlos dos Santos in the Estácio district, Rio de Janeiro, on 7 January 1951. The only son of Oswaldo, a civil servant and amateur samba musician, and Eurídice, a seamstress, he first discovered music through his father, who played at home: "I would fetch his viola, try out a few chords and keep an eye on him. He never let me touch the 4 string viola, which really was a conversation piece, very beautiful. I learned a few things on it, though." In light of his early affinity with music, Melodia decided to defy his father's plans, which were to have him finish school and pursue higher education. In 1963, alongside drummer vocalist Walmir Lucena (aka Mizinho), Melodia started what would become a lifelong musical career. At the time, he took day jobs as a typographer, salesperson, counter attendant while also working as a nightclub musician. After dropping out of middle school, likely in 1964, Melodia spent his teenage years writing songs (never recorded) and playing Jovem Guarda and Bossa Nova hits with his newly formed band Os Instantâneos (The Swift Boys; could be intended as a pun for The Snapshots) alongside friends Manoel, Nazzareno and Mizinho. A short lyrics excerpt is extant from his early period: 'Amo o céu e terra / e também o mar / amo a vontade que tenho de amar.' ('I love the sky and the earth / And the sea as well / I love this will to love that I have.') Instead, Melodia offered Costa another song, Pérola negra (Black Pearl), which she live recorded for album Fa Tal Gal a Todo Vapor (Fatal—Gal at Full Steam). The song was an immediate hit. The album is consistently ranked as one of the best in Brazilian music history. (It was ranked 32nd out of 100 by Rolling Stone Brasil.) The title track, with its sleek arrangement for brass, double bass, voice and piano, was depicted as a 'tormented love song which stands as a hallmark to Melodia's oeuvre'. While his attitude at the time was reported to preserve the irreverence and restlessness of his samba scene background, the record may have earned Melodia a reputation as a maudit (accursed) artist among critics, alongside others like Raimundo Fagner and João Bosco. The reason is unclear, but probably related to his insubordinate mindset. 'We weren't people that simply obeyed. You could say that we sidestepped the record label's house rules; we simply broke away from situations that weren't convenient. I have always believed in what I do", he stated. Melodia's next album, Maravilhas contemporâneas (Contemporary Wonders) (1976), became popular thanks to song Juventude transviada (Deviant Youth), which featured in the soundtrack of Rede Globo's telenovela Pecado Capital (Capital Sin) by author Janete Clair. Starting in 1977, Melodia became a contributor to Projeto Pixinguinha, sharing the stage with singers Zezé Motta and Marina Lima in tours around Brazil. Mico de Circo, another landmark, was released in 1978.

In 2011, Melodia was a guest on fourth solo album by Titãs band member Sérgio Britto Purabossanova (a portmanteau for Pure Bossa Nova), which was released in September that year. In 2013, he held further concerts at Teatro Rival. In the same year, a multi CD box set was released called Três tons de Luiz Melodia (Three Shades [could be "Tones"] of Luiz Melodia) containing three albums from three different decades: Pérola negra, from 1973; Felino, from 1983; and Pintando o sete, from 1991. In 2014, during a concert at Teatro Rival, Melodia released his 13th solo album :pt:Zerima (an anagram for Marize, his sister's name, who had passed away two years earlier), recorded at Som Livre studios. Zerima followed a 13 year gap without releasing new material. In it, Melodia reconnects with his samba and bossa nova roots. New compositions include Cheia de Graça (Full of Grace), as well as Dor de carnaval (Carnival Heartache) with special guest singer songwriter Céu. Melodia never thought the commercial success he obtained, which was significant, but not huge, made justice to the quality of his work. In an interview, he stated: 'By the way, other musicians don't get it [why he didn't achieve as much fame as he deserved]. Djavan said it once, and so did Caetano Veloso. It's a conundrum to many people. I don't really get it myself'. And: 'I still don't have that privilege [of being duly recognised]. Which is something my music certainly deserved. I may be wrong, but I think I was even cut off more than once: I didn't get that much attention from record labels I signed with. I know my work isn't that voluminous, but I think it should have gotten a lot more attention. It takes a certain budget to promote an artist, for marketing expenses. I never got that, except back then at the beginning.'

Melodia was awarded the Ordem do Mérito Cultural (Order of Cultural Merit) in 2011.

Luiz Melodia died on 4 August 2017 at the age of 66 in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro from bone marrow cancer.