Edu Lobo

Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1943, singer and composer Edú Lobo emerged as a central figure in establishing the MPB sound known as Musica Popular Brasileira. He assembled his debut trio at age 18 alongside Dori Caymmi and the acclaimed Marcos Valle. A sustained songwriting partnership with lyricist Vinicius de Moraes began in 1962. Drawing from bossa nova forebears such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, João Gilberto, and Baden Powell, Lobo issued his first album, A Musica de Edú Lobo por Edú Lobo, in 1963; that year also marked his initial theatrical commission, the score for Oduvaldo Vianna Filho’s play Os Azerados Mais Os Benvidos.

The 1965 release Cinco Na Bossa paired him with Nara Leão and the Tamba Trio. Lobo captured first prize at the inaugural Brazilian Popular Musical Festival the same year with the composition “Arrastão,” which became a major success for Elis Regina; he repeated the victory in 1967 with “Ponteio.” Subsequent LPs such as 1968’s Edú preceded his 1969 encounter with Sergio Mendes, which secured an A&M Records deal and produced From the Hot Afternoon featuring saxophonist Paul Desmond. Now based in Los Angeles, Lobo toured with Mendes and Brasil 66, then resurfaced in 1971 on Sergio Mendes Presents Lobo and later that year on Cantiga de Longe.

After returning to Brazil he concentrated on film scores before recording 1973’s Missa Breve. Throughout the mid-1970s he supplied music for the network Globo, including the series Caso Especial. Limite Das Aguas appeared in 1976, followed two years later by the widely praised Camaleão. His soundtrack for the 1979 feature Barra Pesada received the “Best Soundtrack” award at the Gramado Film Festival.

The 1980s opened with Tempo Presente, then the 1981 ballet score Jogos de Danca for the Ballet Guaira and the collaborative album Tom e Edu with Antonio Carlos Jobim. Additional ballet commissions O Grande Circo Mistico and Gabriela led to stage musicals including Vargas, O Corsario do Rei, and Danca da Meia-Lua. Lobo returned to recording with 1990’s Serie Personalidade; Corrupião arrived in 1993 and Meia Noite in 1995. The 1997 film score for Guerra de Canudos preceded his adaptation of Jo Soares’ book, released in 2001 as A Samba for Sherlock. Cambaio, a 2002 collaboration with Chico Buarque, Gal Costa, Lenine, and Zizi Possi, followed.

The next five years were devoted to writing for other artists, occasional performances, and production work. His next studio effort, Casa Forte with Mauro Senise, emerged in 2006 on Biscoito Fino. Lobo appeared as featured guest on the Afonso Pais Trio’s Subsequências in 2008. Tantas Marés, containing both new material and covers of songs by Buarque and Paulo César Pinheiro, was issued in 2010. Edu Lobo & Metropole Orkest, mixing fresh compositions with repertoire favorites, appeared in 2012. Essential Edu Lobo: A 70th Birthday Celebration arrived in 2014 with contributions from Buarque, Maria Bethania, Monica Salmaso, and son Bena Lobo. After an extended touring celebration of the milestone, Lobo resumed writing for others and intermittent live appearances. The 2017 collaboration Dos Navegantes with Senise and Romero Lubambo earned the Latin Grammy Award for Best MPB Album.