Theo De Barros

Composer, arranger, musician, and producer Theo de Barros made a noted contribution to Brazilian popular music of the '60s with the success of his songs in historic festivals. He was also a member of the seminal Quarteto Novo. At 19, he had two of his songs, "Natureza" and "Igrejinha," recorded by Alaíde Costa. His first singles as a singer were recorded the next year -- "Vim de Santana" and "Fim." His first hit was "Menino das Laranjas," recorded by Geraldo Vandré and Walter Wanderley in 1964 and by Elis Regina in 1965. In 1966, he achieved national success when his "Disparada" (with Geraldo Vandré) was presented by Jair Rodrigues, Trio Maraiá, and Trio Novo at the II FMPB, the TV Record's Festival of Brazilian Popular Music (tying for first place with Chico Buarque's "A Banda"). As an arranger, he worked for Carlos Lyra and Abílio Manuel. He also wrote arrangements for The Best of Antonio Carlos Jobim (1990), The Beatles in Bossa Nova, The Best of Chico/Toquinho/Vinícius (1991), Songs of Brazil (1992), Jane Duboc (1993), and Toquinho-Peça Infantil (1996). He produced albums for Dick Farney, Márcia, Adauto Santos, and Papete. Together with Trio Maraiá, he wrote the soundtrack to the film Quelé do Pajeú (Anselmo Duarte). Barros also produced and arranged the two earliest albums by Edu da Gaita, which were appointed as Best Album of the Year (1981 and 1982) by the Jornal do Brasil newspaper. Barros, son of composer Theophilo de Barros Filho, began to study music at ten. Moving to São Paulo at 11, he took the violão (acoustic guitar) and started to play balls and amateur shows at 13. His first composition was written two years later, "Saudade Pequenina." His professional debut was at the Lancaster nightclub, playing bass with César Camargo Mariano (piano), Flavinho (trumpet), and Escalante (drums). In 1962, he formed a trio with Renato Mendes (organ) and José Luis Shiavo (drums). The next year, he joined the Sabá Quarteto, together with Mariano, Sabá, and Hamilton Pitorre. His Sexteto Brasileiro de Bossa opened at the João Sebastião Bar. In 1964, he won the Índio de Prata trophy (granted by TV Tupi) for "Maria e Mar," and Walter Wanderley recorded his "Menino das Laranjas" on his LP O Toque Inconfundível de Walter Wanderley. The song was also recorded by Elis Regina in 1965, the same year he wrote "Disparada" (with Geraldo Vandré) and "Espanto." Among the important plays he directed and composed songs for, the most remarkable was Arena Conta Tiradentes (Augusto Boal/Gianfrancesco Guarnieri). With Heraldo do Monte and Airto Moreira, he formed the Trio Novo, who became the influential Quarteto Novo with the addition of Hermeto Pascoal. His "Desafio" won first place TV Tupi's Festival da Viola. Barros continued to perform and record his solo albums and was active in the advertising market as a composer, arranger, and producer of jingles. Theo de Barros died on March 16, 2023 in Sao Paulo, Brazil at the age of 80.
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