One of the more colorful figures in the contemporary Brazilian music scene, Chico César is widely considered the most important new figure in MPB, the popular Brazilian music movement spearheaded by legends like Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa and others.

Since his phenomenally successful debut recording in 1995, a self-produced live album that was released on a small, independent Brazilian label, César has been recognized as one of the most creative popular artists in Brazil. Gifted with enviable skills as a composer and lyricist, César produces sophisticated melodies and poetry that mange to be both accessible and insightful. His songs have been covered by many of Brazil’s legends, including Maria Bethânia, Elba Ramalho and Daniela Mercury, but it as a performer and bandleader that César has made his biggest mark. His 1996 release Cuzcuz-Clã went gold in Brazil and his 1997 follow-up Beleza Mano is considered an MPB classic. The Putumayo Artists release Chico César includes selections from César’s groundbreaking studio albums and serves as perfect introduction to the music of this stunning new world music star.

While Chico now lives in the southern metropolis of São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, he hails from the small city of Cartolé do Rocha (pop. 12,000) in Paraîba, a state in the Northeast. It is a region that is rich in culture but poor in resources, and poverty and low life expectancies are the rule. The dusty streets of Chico’s hometown were sources for both joy and sorrow giving rise to the deep sentiments and sparkling pleasures of his compositions.

Born to a poor, farm worker father and a washerwoman mother, he was awarded a scholarship to a boarding school run by German nuns. The nuns had escaped Germany during World War II and established a school with high standards and a demanding curriculum where Chico mastered the art of writing. Chico was clearly gifted. At three years old, he had learned to read. By twelve, without knowing a single musical note, he composed his first song. He went on to earn a degree in journalism and moved to São Paulo to pursue a career as a music critic, reporter and proofreader. Eventually, he gave in to his passion and natural talents for music and devoted himself to a life as a composer and performer.

His music is clearly influenced by the bouncy rhythms and accordion-driven melodies of the Northeast, but he claims inspiration from a variety of sources including Donna Summer, Led Zeppelin, Salif Keita, Pink Floyd, Bob Marley and numerous Brazilian artists from a wide range of genres.