Tunai

Tunai earned both widespread commercial success and admiration from key figures across Brazilian popular music. Elis Regina first brought his songs to a national listenership in 1979 with her recording of “As Aparências Enganam,” written with his chief collaborator Sérgio Natureza. Additional interpretations soon came from Milton Nascimento, Fagner, Ney Matogrosso, Gal Costa, Nana Caymmi, Simone, Zizi Possi, Elba Ramalho, Jane Duboc, Beto Guedes, Joanna, Sandra de Sá, César Camargo Mariano, MPB-4, Quarteto em Cy, Fafá de Belém, Ivete Sangalo, and Emílio Santiago. Tunai has also partnered with Murilo Antunes, Ana Terra, Milton Nascimento, Abel Silva, Cláudio Rabelo, and Chico Amaral.

He grew up in a musical household whose best-known member is João Bosco. In his hometown he performed with the dance band Jovem Brasa 5. After moving to Rio de Janeiro in 1978 he met Sérgio Natureza, and the two began writing together at once. His first album as a vocalist, Todos os Tons, appeared in 1981.

Telenovelas remain one of Brazil’s chief vehicles for popular-song exposure. Their soundtrack selections are made with strict criteria. Measured by the number of his pieces chosen for major productions, Tunai has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to reach broad audiences; among those placements are “Sintonia” (Tititi, TV Globo), “Sobrou Pra Mim” (Fera Radical, TV Globo), “Meu Amor” (Despedida de Solteiro, TV Globo), “Apaixonada” (Pantanal, TV Manchete), “Eternamente” (Torre de Babel, TV Globo), and “Frisson” (Suave Veneno, TV Globo).