MPB4 (Short for ''
Música popular brasileira
(, ''Brazilian Popular Music'') or MPB is a trend in post-bossa nova urban popular music in Brazil that revisits typical Brazilian styles such as samba, samba-canção and Baião (music), baião and other Brazilian regional music, combining them ...
4'') is a vocal and instrumental Brazilian group formed in
Niterói
Niterói () is a List of municipalities in Rio de Janeiro, municipality in the state of Rio de Janeiro (state), Rio de Janeiro, in the Southeast Region, Brazil, southeast region of Brazil. It lies across Guanabara Bay, facing the city of Rio de ...
,
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...
, in 1965, and has been active since. The group's main genres are sung
samba
Samba () is a broad term for many of the rhythms that compose the better known Brazilian music genres that originated in the Afro-Brazilians, Afro Brazilian communities of Bahia in the late 19th century and early 20th century, It is a name or ...
and
MPB, and they are considered among the best vocal interpretation group in Brazil. They have frequently collaborated with
Quarteto em Cy
Quarteto em Cy (a play on words of the Portuguese for ''Quartet in B'' by poet and lyricist Vinícius de Moraes) was a Brazilian girl group originally composed of four sisters hailing from Ibirataia, a town located in the Brazilian state of Ba ...
,
Toquinho
Antônio Pecci Filho (born July 6, 1946), better known as Toquinho (), is a Brazilian singer and guitarist. He is well known for his collaborations, as composer and performer, with Vinicius de Moraes.
Childhood and musical studies
Toquinho was ...
and
Chico Buarque
Francisco Buarque de Hollanda (born 19 June 1944), popularly known simply as Chico Buarque (), is a Brazilian singer-songwriter, guitarist, composer, playwright, writer, and poet. He is best known for his music, which often includes social, econom ...
. In 2001, MPB-4 completed a 36-year career with the same formation (registered in the Brazilian edition of the
Guinness Book of Records
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a British reference book published annually, listi ...
).
Founding
The group was founded when the members met through the Centro Popular de Cultura (Popular Culture Center, or CPC), affiliated with the União Nacional dos Estudante (National Students Union, or UNE). The initial lineup featured Miltinho (Milton Lima dos Santos Filho,
Campos dos Goytacazes
Campos dos Goytacazes () is a city located in the northern region of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, with a population of 483,540 inhabitants. It is the largest city in Rio de Janeiro (state) outside of the Greater Rio de Janeiro metropolitan ar ...
, October 18, 1943), Magro (Antônio José Waghabi Filho,
Itaocara
Itaocara (, ) is a List of municipalities in Rio de Janeiro, municipality located in the States of Brazil, Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro (state), Rio de Janeiro. Its population is 23,222 (2020) and its area is 428 km².Brazilian Institut ...
, RJ, November 14, 1943 – August 8, 2012), Achilles (Achille Rique Reis, Niterói, RJ, May 22, 1948) and Ruy Faria (Ruy Alexandre Faria,
Cambuci
Cambuci (, ''Cambuci Berry'') is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. Its population was 15,514 (2020) and its area is 562 km². The calculated population for 2009 was 18,256. It is a popular destination for touri ...
, RJ, July 31, 1937 –
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...
, RJ, January 11, 2018). The quartet was originally known as Quarteto do CPC. With the extinction of the CPC (and of the UNE) after the
1964 Brazilian coup d'état
The 1964 Brazilian coup d'état () was the overthrow of Brazilian president João Goulart by a military coup from March 31 to April 1, 1964, ending the Fourth Brazilian Republic (1946–1964) and initiating the Military dictatorship in Brazil, ...
, the group adopted the name of MPB-4,
1960s and 1970s
In 1965, the band moved to
São Paulo
São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...
. In the city they came into contact with recently launched artists who would later achieve fame:
Chico Buarque
Francisco Buarque de Hollanda (born 19 June 1944), popularly known simply as Chico Buarque (), is a Brazilian singer-songwriter, guitarist, composer, playwright, writer, and poet. He is best known for his music, which often includes social, econom ...
,
Nara Leão
Nara Lofego Leão (; January 19, 1942 – June 7, 1989) was a Brazilian bossa nova and MPB (popular Brazilian music) singer and occasional actress. Leão was married twice, to Ruy Guerra and subsequently Carlos Diegues, both film directors.
...
,
Sidney Miller,
Quarteto em Cy
Quarteto em Cy (a play on words of the Portuguese for ''Quartet in B'' by poet and lyricist Vinícius de Moraes) was a Brazilian girl group originally composed of four sisters hailing from Ibirataia, a town located in the Brazilian state of Ba ...
. Their themes often included references to Brazilian culture and customs ad well as criticism of the country's political situation immersed in the military dictatorship. During this period the group also participated in many National Brazilian music festivals. The group recorded their first self-titled LP in 1966. Throughout the late 1960s they also participated in several Brazilian song festivals.
Their collaborations with Chico Buarque was one of their longest lasting. They recorded "Roda Viva" together in 1967, and traveled with him on his tours in Brazil and abroad.
["From the Music Capitals of the World" ''Billboard'' June 6, 1970] Their partnership lasted through the mid-1970s.
MPB4 was also known for their voiceover work in Disney animated films. They provided the singing voices of the vultures in ''
The Jungle Book
''The Jungle Book'' is an 1894 collection of stories by the English author Rudyard Kipling. Most of the characters are animals such as Shere Khan the tiger and Baloo the bear, though a principal character is the boy or "man-cub" Mowgli, who ...
'', and three of the band members did the singing voices of some crows in the second dub of ''
Dumbo
''Dumbo'' is a 1941 American Animated film, animated Musical film, musical Fantasy film, fantasy Comedy drama, comedy-drama film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film i ...
''.
1980s and Beyond
In 1980, the group released, together with Quarteto em Cy, the children's LP "Flicts." MPB4 recorded another children's LP in the next year, "O Pato."
In 1991, the quartet recorded Sambas da Minha Terra, dedicated to the works of
Dorival Caymmi
Dorival Caymmi (; April 30, 1914 – August 16, 2008) was a Brazilian singer, songwriter, actor, and painter active for more than 70 years, beginning in 1933. He contributed to the birth of Brazil's bossa nova movement, and several of his samb ...
, Toquinho/Vinícius,
Zé Kéti, and
Ary Barroso
Ary Evangelista de Resende Barroso (Portuguese pronunciation: ; 7 November 1903 – 9 February 1964) was a Brazilian composer, pianist, soccer commentator, and talent-show host on radio and TV. He was one of Brazil's most successful songwriters ...
, among others. The group commemorated their 30-year career in 1995 with the show, "Arte de Cantar" and an album of the same name.
Discography
* "Samba bem" (1964) Sarau Compacto duplo
* "Samba lamento/São Salvador" (1965) Elenco Compacto simples
* "MPB-4" (1966) Elenco LP
* "MPB-4" (1967) Elenco LP
* "MPB-4" (1968) Elenco LP
* "Deixa estar" (1970) Elenco/Philips LP
* "De palavra em palavra" (1971) Elenco/Phonogram LP
* "Cicatrizes" (1972) Phonogram LP/CD
* "Antologia do samba" (1974) Phonogram LP/CD
* "Palhaços & Reis" (1974) Phonogram LP
* "
10 anos depois
''10 Anos Depois'' is the tenth album by Brazilian musical artist Jorge Ben, released in 1973.Jorge Ben Jor's official website: It is a collection of popular songs from the first decade of his career re-recorded as medleys.
Track listing
All ...
" (1975) Phonogram LP
* "Canto dos homens" (1976) Phonogram LP
* "Antologia do samba nº 2" (1977) Phonogram LP
* "Cobra de vidro" (1978) Phonogram LP
* "Bons tempos, hein?!" (1979) PolyGram LP
* "Vira virou" (1980) Ariola LP
* "Flicts-Ziraldo e Sérgio Ricardo" (1980) LP
* "Adivinha o que é?" (1981) Ariola LP/CD
* "Tempo tempo" (1981) Ariola LP
* "Caminhos livres" (1983) Ariola LP
* "4 Coringas" (1984) Barclay LP
* "Feitiço carioca-do MPB-4 para
Noel Rosa
Noel de Medeiros Rosa (December 11, 1910 – May 4, 1937) was a Brazilian singer-songwriter. One of the greatest names in Brazilian popular music, Noel gave a new twist to samba, combining its Afro-Brazilian roots with a more urban, witty langu ...
" (1987) Continental LP/CD
* "Ao vivo-do show Amigo é pra essas coisas" (1989) Som Livre LP/CD
* "Sambas da minha terra" (1991) Som Livre CD
* "Encontro marcado-MPB-4 canta
Milton Nascimento
Milton Silva Campos do Nascimento (; born October 26, 1942), also known as Bituca, is a Brazilian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
Nascimento has recorded 32 studio albums and has won five Grammy Awards, including Best World Music ...
" (1993) PolyGram CD
* "Arte de cantar-MPB-4 ao vivo" (1995) Som Livre CD
* "Bate-boca-Quarteto em Cy e MPB-4" (1997) PolyGram CD
* "Somos todos iguais-Quarteto em Cy e MPB-4" (1998) PolyGram CD
* "Melhores momentos - Ao Vivo" (1999) CID CD
* "Vinícius-A arte do encontro. MPB-4 e Quarteto em Cy" (2000) Som Livre CD
* "MPB-4 e a nova música brasileira" (2000) Abril Music CD
* "MPB-4 40 anos ao vivo" (2007) Emi Music CD
* "MPB-4 40 anos ao vivo" (2007) Emi Music DVD
* "Toquinho e MPB-4 - 40 anos de música" (2008) Biscoito Fino CD
* "Toquinho e MPB-4 - 40 anos de música" (2009) Biscoito Fino DVD
* "Contigo Aprendi" (2012) Biscoito Fino CD
References
External links
Official Page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mpb4
Brazilian musical groups