Biography of Singer and Composer Carlinhos Brown
Carlinhos Brown, stage name of Antônio Carlos Santos de Freitas, was born in Salvador on November 23, 1962. He is a renowned singer, percussionist, composer, producer, and cultural agitator from Brazil. In Spain, he is also known as Carlito Marrón.
Origin of the Stage Name
The stage name Carlinhos Brown is a tribute to James Brown and H. Rap Brown, who were prominent figures in black music during the 1970s. James Brown is considered the “godfather of soul” and an icon of funk, while H. Rap Brown is a civil rights activist. This choice reflects the influence these two artists had on Carlinhos’s career, as well as his connection to Afro-American musical culture.
Beginning of Musical Career
Biografia do cantor e compositor Carlinhos Brown
Carlinhos began to learn to play the pandeiro and gradually mastered all percussion instruments. He became one of the most sought-after instrumentalists in Bahia in the early 1980s. In 1984, he played in the band Acordes Verdes, led by Luiz Caldas.
Samba-Reggae and Collaborations
He was one of the creators of samba-reggae and, in 1985, was part of Caetano Veloso‘s band on the album Estrangeiro. In this participation, his composition “Meia Lua Inteira” became very successful in Brazil and abroad. Also in 1985, Luiz Caldas recorded “Visão de Cíclope”, Carlinhos Brown’s first composition, which became one of the most played hits on Salvador’s radio stations.
Timbalada: Impact on Bahian Music
In the 1990s, Carlinhos gained national and international prominence as the leader of the group Timbalada, which brought together over 100 percussionists and singers, known as “timbaleiros”, most of whom were young people from the poor neighborhood of Candeal, where the composer was born. Timbalada had a significant impact on the music scene in Bahia and Brazil, being fundamental in the popularization and renewal of samba-reggae. Through innovative arrangements and contagious rhythms, the group brought new life to this style, making it accessible to a wider audience. Additionally, it promoted social inclusion by providing opportunities for young people from underprivileged communities, consolidating Bahia as an important cultural center and attracting tourists and music fans from all over the world.
Carlinhos recorded eight CDs and toured several countries worldwide. In 1993, he was nominated by Billboard Magazine as “the best album produced in Latin America.”
Solo Career and Experimentalism
After the success of Timbalada, he released solo albums in 1996, Alfagamabetizado and Omelete Man, in which he performed as a singer, composer, and instrumentalist. Like Hermeto Pascoal, Carlinhos also became famous for extracting rhythms from trash cans and buckets of water, performing a work of experimentalism.
Parallel Projects and Social Activism
In addition to Timbalada, Carlinhos Brown develops other parallel projects in Bahia, including: Bloco Timbalada, Candyall Gueto Square, Estúdio Ilha dos Sapos, Trio Elétrico Mr. Brown, Lactomia, and Pracatum Social Action Association (APAS). The latter aims to promote education and social development for children and young people in vulnerable situations in Bahia.
Collaborations and International Recognition
Carlinhos is also known for his collaborative work, having teamed up with various international artists such as Shakira, Macy Gray, and Herbie Hancock, expanding his presence in the global music scene.
Success with Os Tribalistas
In 2002, Carlinhos Brown achieved great success on Brazilian radio by singing with Arnaldo Antunes and Marisa Monte in Os Tribalistas. The hit “Já Sei Namorar” reached the top spot on major Brazilian radio stations. The second song from the album, “Velha Infância”, became the theme song for a soap opera on Rede Globo. In 2003, Os Tribalistas won awards for Best Album, Best DVD, and Best Song, with “Já Sei Namorar”, at the Multishow de Música Brasileira.
Tours and Performances in Spain
Carlinhos Brown performed in Spain for forty shows between May and July 2005. During the five Carnaval Movistar events, the Brazilian artist transformed the streets of Bilbao (May 21), Barcelona (May 28), Madrid (June 18), Seville (June 26), and Valencia (July 17) into a real carnival. This tour culminated on August 27 in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid) and included cities such as Albacete, Tomares, Girona, Logroño, Salamanca, Jaén, A Coruña, Valladolid, Zaragoza, and Castile and León.
Additionally, Carlinhos performed in July in Córdoba, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, Valencia, Gijón, and at the Festival Pireneus Sul, and in August in Pinto (Madrid), Pontevedra, Alicante, Gandía, Bilbao, Majorca, Serpa, and Lagos in Portugal. He became one of the biggest phenomena of Bahian music in Europe, followed by other bands and singers.
Legacy and Influence
In July 2007, Carlinhos Brown performed at the Delta Tejo Festival in Lisbon. He is widely recognized for his ability to blend various musical genres, including samba, reggae, rock, African music, and pop music, resulting in a unique and vibrant sound that continues to influence and inspire new generations of musicians and music lovers.
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