1998

The father of Brazilian soul music, Tim Maia debuted in music as a drummer, but quickly switched to guitar. In 1957 he founded the rock group Os Sputniks, with Roberto and Erasmo Carlos (lead personalities from the first wave of Brazil Rock). In 1959 he moved to the United States, where he studied English and learned about soul music, having a break as vocalist for The Ideals. In 1969 he was invited to perform a duet with Elis Regina, recording his composition, "These are the Songs". The feat shed light on him, who was offered a record deal for an LP, "Tim Maia" (1970), which featured smash hits like "Primavera" (Cassiano) and "Azul da Cor do Mar" (Tim). As years went by, more albums and hits such as "Não Quero Dinheiro (Só Quero Amar)", "Réu Confesso", "Gostava Tanto de Você" (Edson Trindade). In 1975, following the sect Universo em Desencanto, Maia released two editions of "Tim Maia Racional" on his own label, Seroma. In the next year, he was back to Polydor and to his repertoire. More hits were added: "Sossêgo" (from the LP "Tim Maia Disco Club"; 1978), "Descobridor dos Sete Mares" (title track from the 1983 LP) and "Do Leme ao Pontal" (from "Tim Maia"; 1986). Annoyed with the treatment given by record companies, Tim took up on his own label and record company, Seroma and Vitória Régia Discos, using the structure to produce and release his albums. Reviewed by pop artists (Paralamas do Sucesso; Marisa Monte), Tim showed reciprocate fondness, making versions of younger composers’ songs. From Jorge Ben, he got his nickname, "síndico", something like a concierge, immortalized in Ben’s song, "W/Brasil. Along the decade, Tim would still make bossa nova records (one of them with Os Cariocas) and versions of pop and soul classics (like "What a Wonderful World"). In 1998, during a show at Teatro Municipal de Niterói, which was being made into a TV special, the singer collapsed, passing away one week later. Brazilian musicians arranged for a tribute concert, which was made into a CD, a TV special and a home video.