- Tony Babalu
-
Tony Babalu 
Tony Babalu 2011 by Rose Mary MartinezBackground information Birth name A. Medeiros Junior Also known as Babalu, Toni Born 29 December 1953
Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, BrazilGenres Rock and Roll, Blues, Rock, Funk, Black Music, Rhythm and Blues Occupations Musician, songwriter, record producer, artistic director Instruments Guitar, bass, Years active 1970–present Labels Amellis Records, RGE, BMG Associated acts Made in Brazil, Bem Nascidos e Mal Criados Website tonybabalu.com Notable instruments 1972 Fender Stratocaster Tony Babalu is representative of the second generation of Brazilian guitar players. Experienced composer, arranger, producer, director and guitarist, one of his major features is an impressive power of synthesis, being, according to the critic Okky de Souza (Veja magazine's editor), "the most complete Brazilian guitarist, capable of shining in all genres linked to Pop and also of diving deeper into the priceless heritage of the Bluesmen who that shaped the sound of the twentieth century".
Contents
1970s
Tony Babalu began his career in the 1970s, in the historically rocker neighborhood of Pompeia, in Sao Paulo (Brazil), as guitarist of Made In Brazil band,[1] being the author (with O. Vecchione) of 9 out of the 12 tracks from the legendary album Pauliceia Desvairada, considered by "Folha de Sao Paulo" one of the four key albums of the Brazilian rock of the 1970s. Between these tracks stand out "Gasolina", "Amanhã é um Novo Dia" and "Uma Banda Made In Brazil" (reissued on CD by BMG/Ariola).
- Discography
- 1974/1999 – "Made In Brazil", of the band Made In Brazil, released in LP through RCA in 1974 and re-issued in CD through BMG in 1999:
- Rhythm Guitar in all tracks;
- Writer - Track 5 - "Intupitou o Trânsito";
- 1976/1999 – "Jack O Estripador", of the band Made In Brazil, released in LP through RCA in 1976 and re-issued in CD through BMG in 1999:
- Rhythm Guitar in all tracks;
- Solo Guitar - Track 8 – "Não Transo Mais";
- Bass - Track 3 – "O Cigano";
- 1977/2005 – "Massacre", CD of the band Made In Brazil, originally recorded in 1977 by RCA and officially released in 2005 through Made In Brazil Records:
- Writer (with O. Vecchione) - Tracks 1 – "Massacre", 2 – "Amanhã É Um Novo Dia", 3 – "Uma Banda Made In Brazil", 4 – "Dia de Assumir", 6 – "Eu Vou Estar com Você", 8 – "Eu Não Sei Se Mudaria", 9 – "Chuva", 11 – "Você Me Machucou" and 12 – "Finge que Tropeça";
- 1978/1999 – "Paulicéia Desvairada", of the band Made In Brazil, released in LP through RCA in 1978 e re-issued in CD through BMG in 1999:
- Base Arrangements for all tracks;
- Guitars in all tracks;
- Acoustic Guitar - Tracks 2 - "Amanhã É Um Novo Dia", 5 - "Você Me Machucou" and 8 - "Chuva";
- Writer (with O. Vecchione) - Tracks 1 - "Gasolina", 2 - "Amanhã É Um Novo Dia", 3 - "Eu Vou Estar com Você", 4 - "Eu Não Sei se Mudaria", 5 - "Você Me Machucou", 7 - "Uma Banda Made In Brazil", 8 - "Chuva", 9 - "Finge que Tropeça" and 10 - "Massacre";
1980s
In the 80s, Babalu participated in the MPB 80 festival (Globo TV) with the song "Cidade Louca" (Tony Babalu/Eliane Ribeiro - arrangement of Amilson Godoy), released on EP by TOP TAPE with the group Artigo de Luxo (Luxury Item), and joined the celebrated rock band Quarto Crescente (which released an homonym album by RGE).
- Discography
- 1980 – "Cidade Louca", single of the band Artigo de Luxo, released in EP through Top Tape;
- Artistic and General Director;
- Artistic and General Producer;
- Acoustic Guitar;
- Writer;
- 1981 – "Quarto Crescente", of the band band Quarto Crescente, released in LP through Fermata:
- Guitars in all tracks;
- 1981/1999 – "Minha Vida É Rock'n Roll", of the band Made In Brazil, released in LP through RCA in 1981 and re-issued in CD through BMG in 1999:
- Guitars in all tracks;
- Bass - Tracks 1 - "Fim de Semana", 6 - "Assopraram a Velhinha" and 11 - "Gatinha Fujona";
- Writer - Track 11 - "Gatinha Fujona";
- 1986 – "Deus Salva... O Rock Alivia", of the band Made In Brazil, released in LP through RGE in 1986:
- Studio Director and Coordinator;
- Guitars - Track 11 - Malvina's (O Pessoal do Rock)";
- Writer - Track 8 – "Cometa Rock";
- 1986 – "Made Pirata Vol. I", of the band Made In Brazil, released in LP through RGE in 1986 and re-issued in CD through BMG in 1999:
- Assistant Producer;
- Assistant Director;
- Guitars in all tracks;
- Solo Guitar - Track 3 - "Não Transo Mais";
- 1986 – "Made Pirata Vol. II", of the band Made In Brazil, released in LP through RGE in 1986 and re-issued in CD through BMG in 1999:
- Assistant Producer
- Assistant Director
- Guitars in all tracks;
1990s
In 1991, Babalu created the audacious funk-rock band Bem Nascidos e Mal Criados (Wellborn and Badly Raised), which became known in the alternative cultural scene of the city of Sao Paulo, and until today fires audiences with its swung themes and visceral and electrifying performances, always with highly qualified musicians on stage.
- Discography
- 1998 – "Sexo, Blues & Rock'n Roll", of the band Made In Brazil, released in CD through Made In Brazil Records:
- Assistant Director;
- Rhythm Guitar in all tracks;
- Solo Guitar - Track 1 - "Remédio Pra Dormir";
2000s
In 2003, Babalu recorded his first instrumental work, the CD Balada na Noite (Ballad in the Night), in which he performed and programmed all the instruments and worked on the "Jazz-Rock-Blues" fusion, in an intimate and handicraft way.
Between 2005 and 2007, Babalu was responsible for directing and producing the CDs "Noite Proibida" (Marise Marra) and "Maga Lieri" (Maga Lieri), both released by the label Amellis Records (Tratore's distribution).
Nowadays, Babalu's been performing concerts, going through several stages of his career, in places like MIS-SP (Image and Sound Museum of the State of Sao Paulo), Galeria Olido, Centro Cultural SP and others, and eventually participating in the work of friends like the Belgian band Mind Priority, singer Penha Pinheiro and musicians such as Duofel, Madan and Filó Machado, with whom he recorded the song "Vamos Todo Mundo (Let's Go Together)" (Madan/Paulo Flexa), Brazilian theme song of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence (2009).[2]
- Discography
- 2000 – "Fogo na Madeira – Acústico - Made In Brazil Ao Vivo", CD of the band Made In Brazil, recorded live from Delta Blues Bar (Campinas/Brazil) and from Bourbon Street (Sao Paulo/Brazil), and released through Made In Brazil Records:
- Acoustic Guitar in all tracks;
- 2000 - "MPBlues", CD of the guitarist Duca Belintani, released through label Eldorado:
- Writer - Tracks 3 - "Tão Down" and 11 – "Bonnie";
- 2001 – CD "Fogo na Madeira II – Acústico - Made In Brazil Ao Vivo", CD of the band Made In Brazil, recorded live from the SESI Theater (Sao Paulo/Brazil) and from Bourbon Street (Sao Paulo/Brazil), and released through Made In Brazil Records:
- Acoustic Guitar in all tracks;
- Bass - Track 3 - "Amanhã É Um Novo Dia";
- 2005 – "Maga Lieri", CD of the singer and writer Maga Lieri, released through Amellis Records:
- Artistic Director
- Musical Producer (with Luiz Carlos Maluly) - Tracks 7 – "De Repente Nunca Mais" and 8 – "Meus Sinais";
- Writer - Track 2 – "Tua Canção";
- Solo Guitar - Tracks 2 - "Tua Canção" and 3 – "Sotaque Soul";
- 2005 – "Noite Proibida", CD of the guitarist, singer and writer Marise Marra, released through Amellis Records:
- Musical Director;
- Artist and General Producer;
- 2005 – "Balada na Noite", of Tony Babalu, virtually released through Amellis Records at website IMUSICA:
- Arrangements for all tracks;
- Electric Guitar in all tracks;
- Sequencer programming (bass, keys and drums) in all tracks;
- Writer of all tracks;
- 2006 – "Novo Endereço", CD of the singer Penha Pinheiro, released through Amellis Records:
- Writer - Tracks 2 – "Novo Endereço", 4 – "Pago Pra Ver", 7 – "Não Consigo Te Deixar" and 9 – "Tão Down";
- 2008 - "Rock de Verdade", CD of the band Made In Brazil, released through Made in Brazil Records:
- Solo Guitar - Track 12 - "Festa na Pompéia";
References
Sources
- Roadie Crew Magazine - Edition 124, Year 2009
- Guitar Player Brasil Magazine - April 2006, Edition 120
- Guitar Player Brasil Magazine - July 2001, Edition 63
- Rock Brigade Magazine - Edition 199
External links
Categories:- Brazilian guitarists
- Living people
- 1953 births
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
