Renato Russo

Renato Russo, born Renato Manfredini Jr., (March 27, 1960 - October 11, 1996) was the formal founder and leader of the Brazilian rock band, Legião Urbana.

Early life

Renato Manfredini Jr. was born in Rio de Janeiro. His father was an executive at Banco do Brasil, and they moved to New York in 1967, when Renato's father was assigned a job position in the city. Later, they returned to Rio de Janeiro before finally, in 1973, settling in Brasília.

At the age of 15, Renato acquired [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002965.htm epiphysiolysis] , a disease that paralyzed his legs for two years. Renato had to have a platinum implant, which earned him the nickname "Six Million Dollar Man" [Dapieve, Arthur, BRock: O rock brasileiro dos anos 80, p. 129] . Due to this condition, Renato became an enthusiastic reader. He studied Law. He grew interested in music, particularly punk, to the point of creating an imaginary band, 42nd Street Band, where he would be a lead singer and bass guitarist. He worked as a journalist and an English teacher for a brief period before becoming a full-time musician and composer. He chose the stage name "Renato Russo" in honour of French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, British philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell and painter Henri Rousseau [Dapieve, Arthur, BRock: O rock brasileiro dos anos 80, p. 131] .

Musical career

During the years of 1978 and 1979, he was the bass player of the punk rock band Aborto Elétrico ("Electric Abortion"). Although the band did not last too long, Renato Russo wrote many songs during this period, that would later become hits of Capital Inicial (founded by the other members of the Aborto Elétrico) and Legião Urbana (founded by Renato Russo).

In 1982, he, along with Marcelo Bonfá, Dado Villa-Lobos and Renato Rocha, formed Legião Urbana (idealized some time before by Renato Russo). With "Legião Urbana" and "Dois", they became widely famous in Brazil, with protest songs at first, and songs about love, spiritualism, family and sex afterwards.

He worked in two solo albums, with English and Italian songs, in the 1990s.

Death

He died in October 11, 1996 from an AIDS related illness. [ [http://cliquemusic.uol.com.br/artistas/legiao-urbana.asp Legião Urbana] ] After his death, the remaining members of Legião Urbana decided to dismantle the band. His body was cremated and his ashes were spread over the garden of Roberto Burle Marx.

Renato Russo is survived by his son Giuliano Manfredini.

olo Discography

* "The Stonewall Celebration Concert" (1994) - (250 thousand copies sold)
* "Equilibrio Distante" (1995) - (1 million copies sold)
* "O Ultimo Solo" (1997) - (500 thousand copies sold)
* "Presente" (2003) - (150 thousand copies sold)
* "O Trovador Solitário" (2008)

External links

* [http://www.renatorusso.com.br/ Official Site]
* [http://www.sidneyrezende.com/sec_news_view.php?id=1467&editoria=4 Arthur Dapieve´s interview about Renato Russo]
* [http://www.lucianomarinho.com.br/blog/28-4-2007/eu-tenho-saudades-da-legiao-urbana.html Vídeos in Luciano Marinho Site]

References

* [http://www.renatorusso.com.br/] , "Biografia" section