Olivia Byington -

Olivia Byington is a Brazilian singer/songwriter who debuted with the 1978 Continental album Corra o Risco, followed by four albums through 1987 on Som Livre, Areito, and Elenco.

Background

Olívia Byington was born Olivia Maria Lustosa Byington on December 24, 1958, in Rio de Janeiro. Her father, Carlos Byington, practiced psychiatry and psychoanalysis. Byington first sang with her mother and sisters at home. She began piano lessons at six and guitar at eight. In 1970, she added violin lessons.

Byington met cellist Jaques Morelenbaum at a party in Copacabana. He played piano while she sang, and the pair later rehearsed as Antena Coletiva. Morelenbaum joined A Barca do Sol after meeting the group at a 1974 summer music course in Curitiba. Byington stayed close to the musicians and learned their songs at rehearsals in the Rio home of Dulce and Geraldo Carneiro. She enrolled at Pró-Arte in 1975 and sang advertising jingles for Aquarius, the company of composer brothers Paulo Sérgio and Marcos Valle.

Poet Geraldo Carneiro, brother of A Barca do Sol guitarist Nando Carneiro, began dating Byington’s sister Elisa. He visited the Byington home in São Conrado, where he and Olívia wrote “Corra o Risco.” A Barca do Sol agreed to accompany Byington on her Continental debut of that name, with Geraldo Carneiro as producer.

Discography:

Corra o Risco (1978)
Anjo Vadio (1980 • Olívia)
Identidad (1983)
Música (1984)
Melodia Sentimental (1987)
Olivia Byington & João Carlos Assis Brasil (1990)

Sources

Olívia Byington’s account of Corra o Risco. Describes the meeting with Morelenbaum, Antena Coletiva, the rehearsals, her first collaboration with Carneiro, and the album plan. (BLUP, reproducing her concert text)
Jaques Morelenbaum interview. Confirms that he rehearsed with Byington in Antena Coletiva before joining A Barca do Sol. (Revista UBC)
Olívia Byington interview. Covers her family, childhood singing, Aquarius sessions, and meeting with Morelenbaum. (Jornal da Unesp)
Olívia Byington biographical entry. Gives her full name, birth details, instrument studies, Pró-Arte enrollment, and debut producer. (Dicionário Cravo Albin)
Record catalog entry for Corra o Risco. Confirms the 1978 Continental issue, A Barca do Sol’s accompaniment, and the title-song credit. (IMMuB)