Taiguara
Encyclopedia
Taiguara Chalar da Silva (Montevideo, October 9, 1945 – São Paulo
, February 14, 1996), whose stage name was Taiguara, was a Brazil
ian singer and songwriter.
Taiguara was born in Montevideo
, Uruguay
as his father toured the country as a musician, but grew up in Rio and later moved to São Paulo. While attending Law School at Mackenzie University, he became increasingly involved with student organized recitals and performances, eventually abandoning the course altogether to pursue a musical career full time. In 1964, he joined the Sambalanço Trio
and started receiving media attention, which yielded his first offer from a record label. In 1965, Taiguara recorded his first of several albums, and in the following years won many awards.
Due to a series of disagreements with the military dictators in power, his career in Brazil was interrupted in the mid-1970s and he was forced to move abroad, settling in London, where he studied at Guildhall School of Music and Drama
and recorded the album Let the Children Hear the Music, the first foreign recording by a Brazilian musician censored in Brazil (the same record was never released in England either, having been deemed "misplaced" by the studios). He also lived in a few African countries while in exile, mainly Tanzania
, where he studied Journalism for a year.
Always troubled by the harsh reality of the less fortunate, he increasingly leaned towards leftist views, later becoming involved with militant activities which rallied for a fairer future and social and economical equality for all. Although he was never officially affiliated with any political parties, communist leader Luis Carlos Prestes
became a great friend and mentor in his later years. Taiguara composed the song "O Calaveiro da Esperança" {The Cavalier of Hope} in his honor.
Thirteen years after performing in Brazil for the last time, Taiguara returned with the concert "Thirteen Octobers" and released two more albums: "Cançoes de Amor e Liberdade" {Songs of love and Freedom} (1984) and "Brazil Afri" {Afro Brasil} (1994) in the following years. On February 14, 1996, he died from bladder cancer
. His last project, an album of songs that celebrated and examined the joys and hardships of the poor living on the slums of Rio de Janeiro
, never came to completion.
Taiguara was one of the most censored Brazilian artists to date, having close to 100 songs vetoed throughout his career. Some of his biggest hits were "Universo No Teu Corpo" -- which contained a veiled celebration of atheism -- "Teu Sonho Não Acabou", "Viagem", "Berço de Marcela", "Que as Crianças Cantem Livres", "Hoje", "Amanda", "Carne e Osso", "Geração 70" and "Mudou". Not unlike many MPB
artists, Taiguara composed his own music.
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, February 14, 1996), whose stage name was Taiguara, was a Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian singer and songwriter.
Taiguara was born in Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
as his father toured the country as a musician, but grew up in Rio and later moved to São Paulo. While attending Law School at Mackenzie University, he became increasingly involved with student organized recitals and performances, eventually abandoning the course altogether to pursue a musical career full time. In 1964, he joined the Sambalanço Trio
Sambalanço Trio
Sambalanço Trio is a Brazilian samba-jazz group formed by Cesar Camargo Mariano , Humberto Clayber and Airto Moreira . The band started to play in 1964 and lasted for about two years...
and started receiving media attention, which yielded his first offer from a record label. In 1965, Taiguara recorded his first of several albums, and in the following years won many awards.
Due to a series of disagreements with the military dictators in power, his career in Brazil was interrupted in the mid-1970s and he was forced to move abroad, settling in London, where he studied at Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
and recorded the album Let the Children Hear the Music, the first foreign recording by a Brazilian musician censored in Brazil (the same record was never released in England either, having been deemed "misplaced" by the studios). He also lived in a few African countries while in exile, mainly Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, where he studied Journalism for a year.
Always troubled by the harsh reality of the less fortunate, he increasingly leaned towards leftist views, later becoming involved with militant activities which rallied for a fairer future and social and economical equality for all. Although he was never officially affiliated with any political parties, communist leader Luis Carlos Prestes
Luís Carlos Prestes
Luís Carlos Prestes was a leader of the 1920s tenente rebellion and the Communist opposition to the dictatorship of Getúlio Vargas in Brazil....
became a great friend and mentor in his later years. Taiguara composed the song "O Calaveiro da Esperança" {The Cavalier of Hope} in his honor.
Thirteen years after performing in Brazil for the last time, Taiguara returned with the concert "Thirteen Octobers" and released two more albums: "Cançoes de Amor e Liberdade" {Songs of love and Freedom} (1984) and "Brazil Afri" {Afro Brasil} (1994) in the following years. On February 14, 1996, he died from bladder cancer
Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is any of several types of malignant growths of the urinary bladder. It is a disease in which abnormal cells multiply without control in the bladder. The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ that stores urine; it is located in the pelvis...
. His last project, an album of songs that celebrated and examined the joys and hardships of the poor living on the slums of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, never came to completion.
Taiguara was one of the most censored Brazilian artists to date, having close to 100 songs vetoed throughout his career. Some of his biggest hits were "Universo No Teu Corpo" -- which contained a veiled celebration of atheism -- "Teu Sonho Não Acabou", "Viagem", "Berço de Marcela", "Que as Crianças Cantem Livres", "Hoje", "Amanda", "Carne e Osso", "Geração 70" and "Mudou". Not unlike many MPB
Música Popular Brasileira
Música Popular Brasileira or MPB designates a trend in post-Bossa Nova urban popular music. It is not a discrete genre but rather a constellation that combines original songwriting and updated versions of traditional Brazilian urban music styles like samba and samba-canção with contemporary...
artists, Taiguara composed his own music.
Discography
Partial Discography- 1965 - Taiguara - Philips LP
- 1966 - Crônica da cidade amada - Philips LP
- 1966 - Primeiro tempo 5x0 - Philips LP
- 1968 - Taiguara, o vencedor dos festivais - EMI-Odeon LP
- 1969 - Hoje - EMI-Odeon LP
- 1970 - Viagem - EMI-Odeon LP
- 1971 - Carne e osso - EMI-Odeon LP
- 1972 - Taiguara, piano e viola - EMI-Odeon LP
- 1973 - Fotografias - EMI-Odeon LP
- 1974 - Let the children hear the music - KPM LP
- 1975 - Imyra, Tayra, Ipy, Taiguara - EMI-Odeon LP
- 1981 - Porto de Vitória/Sol do Tanganica (1981) Alvorada Continental - Compacto simples
- 1984 - Canções de amor e liberdade - Alvorada Continental Discos LP
- 1984 - Mais valia/Vos do leste/Guarânia Guarani/Anita - Alvorada Continental - Compacto duplo extraído do LP Canções de amor e liberdade.
- 1985 - Grandes sucessos de Taiguara - EMI-Odeon LP
- 1986 - Grandes sucessos de Taiguara volume 2 - EMI-Odeon LP
- 1987 - A paz do meu amor - EMI-Odeon LP
- 1988 - O talento de Taiguara - EMI-Odeon LP duplo
- 1989 - Teu sonho não acabou - EMI-Odeon LP
- 1989 - Teu sonho não acabou - EMI-Odeon CD
- 1994 - Brasil Afri - Movieplay CD
External links
- Taiguara Official Website (under construction)
- Imyra, Tayra, Ipy - Taiguara
- Campanha de Repatriamento de uma obra prima ainda não disponível em solo Brasileiro
See also
- Taiguara performing one of his greatest hits, "Universo No Teu Corpo".
- Taiguara performing another one of his popular compositions, "Teu Sonho Não Acabou".
- Taiguara performing "The Cavalier of Hope" song dedicated to Luis Carlos PrestesLuís Carlos PrestesLuís Carlos Prestes was a leader of the 1920s tenente rebellion and the Communist opposition to the dictatorship of Getúlio Vargas in Brazil....
- Taiguara performing "Imagine", by John Lennon.