Marco Antônio Araújo

Marco Antônio Araújo (Aug. 28, 1949 — Jan. 6, 1986) was a Brazilian guitarist, cellist, and composer who released four symphonic-folk albums between 1981 and 1984 on Strawberry Fields. He died of a brain aneurysm at age 36.

Background

Marco Antônio Araújo was born Marco Antônio Pena Araújo on August 28, 1949, in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. He grew up in the Funcionários district and attended Colégio Santa Helena and Liceu Salesiano.

In 1968, Araújo joined the Belo Horizonte group Vox Populi as a guitarist, then left his economics course and bank job to pursue music. Vox Populi cut a 1969 single for the local Bemol label while Araújo entered “SpaçoMangUin” in the city’s first student song festival.

Araújo moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1969 and shared an apartment with Zé Rodrix and Tavito, who later joined Som Imaginário. He co-wrote “Poison” with Rodrix for the group’s 1970 debut album and played guitar on “Nepal.” Araújo spent several months in Ouro Preto, then lived in London for roughly two years. He returned to Rio in 1973 and studied composition with Esther Scliar, classical guitar with Léo Soares, and cello with Eugen Ranevsky. He also composed music for José Wilker’s stage production Rudá.

Araújo returned to Belo Horizonte in 1977 after winning a cello position with the Orquestra Sinfônica de Minas Gerais. He wrote the music for “Partida,” an audiovisual collaboration with poet Alda Stutz that won the city’s fifth Salão Global de Inverno. Araújo then scored Cantares, a 1978 Grupo Corpo ballet choreographed by Rodrigo Pederneiras. He presented Fantasia and Devaneios in 1978–79 with an ensemble that included his guitarist brother Alexandre, flutist Carlos Bosticco, and cellist Hannah Goodwin.

Araújo joined Mantra in 1979 alongside Alexandre, bassist Ivan Corrêa, and drummer Sérgio Matos. Flutist Eduardo Delgado and cellist Antônio Viola joined the group as Araújo developed his instrumental concerts. He established Strawberry Fields for his own music. In 1980, Araújo recorded his first LP, Influências, with a Mantra lineup that included drummer Mário Castelo.

Discography:

• Influências (1981)
• Quando a sorte te solta um cisne na noite (1982)
• Entre um silêncio e outro (1983)
• Lucas (1984)

Sources

• Marco Antônio Araújo, civil-name entry. Gives his full name, birth date, and birthplace. (Discografia Brasileira)
• Marco Antônio Araújo, biographical entry. Covers the economics course, bank job, moves, and Rio studies. (MPB Cifrantiga)
• Tavito, oral-history interview. Recalls his association with Araújo and Vox Populi in Belo Horizonte. (Museu da Pessoa)
• Márcio Borges, Os sonhos não envelhecem. Recalls Araújo’s “SpaçoMangUin” at the student song festival; festival histories date the event to 1969. (Book PDF)
• Vox Populi, Bemol single. Describes an examined copy and notes uncertainty over its exact release year. (Toque Musical)
• Som Imaginário, 1970 album account. Identifies Araújo’s guitar contribution to “Nepal” and his “Poison” co-write with Rodrix. (Mofo)
• Grupo Corpo, repertory history. Credits Araújo with the music for the 1978 Cantares. (Grupo Corpo)
• Alexandre Araújo, family account. Names the musicians on the Fantasia and Devaneios shows and describes Strawberry Fields. (Alexandre Araújo)
• Influências, record and session details. Distinguishes the 1980 recording from the LP’s commonly listed 1981 release. (Sinister Salad Musikal)