Eduardo Araujo

Eduardo Araújo, once a standout performer in the Jovem Guarda era, now concentrates on the Brazilian country and sertanejo scenes. While enrolled in studies in Belo Horizonte, the initial influx of American rock reached Brazil via Bill Haley and His Comets and drew him in. He relocated to Rio de Janeiro in 1960 to pursue veterinary medicine. After persuading Jair de Taumaturgo, producer of the leading rock broadcast Hoje é dia de Rock, he appeared on the program and landed a Phillips contract for his debut double single, Garoto do Rock. Through his connection with the influential Carlos Imperial, who later became a writing partner, he joined the Clube do Rock circle of emerging talents that regularly included Erasmo Carlos, Tim Maia, Roberto Carlos, Wilson Simonal, Jorge Ben, Renato e Seus Blue Caps, and others united by their rock & roll ambitions. He also took part in Imperial’s presentations Os Brotos Comandam and Festival da Juventude. Financial pressures soon required a return to his father’s farm in Minas Gerais, yet the Jovem Guarda surge four years later brought a 1967 Odeon contract. His greatest success arrived with the recording “O Bom” by Carlos Imperial, which reached the top of the parade charts. “Goiabão,” credited to Araújo and Imperial, also performed strongly. TV Excelsior then engaged him to host the Imperial-produced program O Bom. With his wife Silvinha as co-host, the show commanded the largest audience of its day and filled the São Paulo auditorium for Saturday afternoon broadcasts. Intensive touring throughout Brazil defined that period. The fading of Jovem Guarda brought renewed neglect and another retreat to the farm. His tribute to the Mangalarga Marchador horse race, however, became the anthem for its breeders and renewed momentum in Araújo’s career. Working in the country field by 1988, he issued Um Homem Chamado Cavalo. Pé Na Estrada followed, selling 40,000 copies and securing an invitation from SBT to host a program of the same name along with additional albums. In 2000 the Bellamy Brothers asked him to appear on their track “Vertical Expression,” featured on The Lonely Planet. The song received release in Europe and the United States. The video pairing Araújo with the Bellamy Brothers topped the CMT parade in Brazil and received the CMT Encontro do Ano award.