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Ancient
churches, narrow streets, old attics and mountains, and vivid
memories of African slaves, all travel through the renaissance
vein shared by all the artists from Minas Gerais, state in the
center of Brazil, the cradle of many creative and revolutionary
geniuses of Brazilian popular music. In this colonial scenery,
built over gold and blood stories of hatred and courage, was
Joćo Bosco born. In the small town of Ponte Nova, confined,
hidden among the mineral mountains of Minas Gerai, he spent his
childhood, surrounded by accordions, the local band, the radio
singers and church litanies. Music has always been present in his
family. Piano, lyrics and violin were part of the household
routine. At the age of 12 he was given his first guitar, a green
one, and proceeded to divide his joys between soccer and swing of
his first own rock band.
Some years later, Joćo Bosco traveled to Ouro Preto aiming to
unravel the arts of engeneering and discovered that he was
irrevocably attracted to "bossa nova",
"tropicalism" and "jazz". His attention was
drawn to Joćo Gilberto, Tom Jobim, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker,
Ray Charles, Mingus, Coltrane, Milton Nascimento, among many
other great musicians and innovators who day by day widen the
universe of music. It was at that time that he met the great poet
Vinicius de Moraes, and with him formed his first and illustrious
partnership. By 1972, he made his debut in the recording universe
(pocket record - Pasquim) with Tom Jobim, from whom he received
considerable praise: "Joćo, eh? Your music has already
crossed over the stream...".
In 1973, already a Bachelor in Civil Engeneering, he came to Rio
de Janeiro to start a new life. Joćo Bosco appeared in the
Brazialian Popular Music scenery in a difficult period of the
Brazilian history. Together with the lyricist Aldir Blanc, they
resisted the political nightmare of the 70's without fear, with a
critical look and challenging voice. Elis Regina, who for many
years was to be main interpreter of this melodies, transformed
dozens of songs into unforgetable events.
The 80's found Joćo Bosco restless. The artist researched
rhythms and strange sonorities, looking for the new and the
revolutionary. He prefered the "slack rope" to the
stability of the well known. His mark became notorius in a
personal and vigorous style, born from a perfect union between
his voice, his composition and his guitar. The '90s find Joćo
Bosco full of temptations.
Free, loose, he has unitied the conventional nots and given vent
to his imagination. Joćo Bosco is shamelessly reiventing
Brazilian popular music, ling up new rhythmical forms, searching
for melodic horizons, metamorphosing harmonies, making poetry out
of reality with unmatched sonority and dignity, singing without
any fear.
Biography courtesy of Saudades
Tourneen.
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