Alceu Paiva Valença is a Brazilian singer, composer, actor and intellectual.
Alceu was born in 1946 and raised in a rural area of the state of Pernambuco; had musical contact since his childhood, mainly because of the parties his grandfather organized at home. Outdoor, listened the Embolada, the violeiros (regional guitarists), Repente, Toada, Xote, Baião, Xaxado, accordion players, circus artists and so on.
His family moved to Recife, and Alceu Valença with 6 years old had contact with the littoral culture of the Frevo, Maracatu and Ciranda - Brazil has warm weather and people, what makes the socialization very easy - Learned how to play guitar without any school or teacher, and became closer to the music, the cinema, the poesy and more worried about social subjects.
In 1965 started the Law College, and during the academic degree was selected for a scholarship in the renowned Harvard University. It was a short course about conservative politics.
In 1970 (after graduating) moved to Rio de Janeiro, and subscribed to an important Song Festival with Geraldo Azevedo and Jackson do Pandeiro. One music was classified, and Alceu who worked like journalist felt more and more involved with the music career.
After some shows and few LPs, was invited by Sergio Ricardo to star in the movie A Noite do Espantalho, like leading man. Without success, goes to live in Paris.
Back to Brazil in the early 80’s, recorded the LP Coração Bobo, with great success of the homonymy music. After this CD his career moved upward. He composed many popular songs, starred another movie and wrote a book, becoming reference of intellectuality and good music.
Highlights for the presentation in the Rock in Rio II (1991), awarded as the best presentation of the Festival; his relative success in France, and the project Grande Encontro that Alceu divides the stage with the stars Elba Ramalho, Geraldo Azevedo and Zé Ramalho.
With songs like Morena Tropicana, Anunciação, Voltei Recife, Vampira and others, became one of the best national references of the Northeastern identity, describing himself as “a mirror of the folk.” Alceu is proud of not imitating any musician. His songs connect us to different musical universes such as the Frevo and the Carnival of Recife, Xote, Baião, Xaxado, Maracatu, Repente, Cordel Literature, Rock and Blues.
I present here some of his most popular songs. Enjoy it and share with us what You think about!
Alceu was born in 1946 and raised in a rural area of the state of Pernambuco; had musical contact since his childhood, mainly because of the parties his grandfather organized at home. Outdoor, listened the Embolada, the violeiros (regional guitarists), Repente, Toada, Xote, Baião, Xaxado, accordion players, circus artists and so on.
His family moved to Recife, and Alceu Valença with 6 years old had contact with the littoral culture of the Frevo, Maracatu and Ciranda - Brazil has warm weather and people, what makes the socialization very easy - Learned how to play guitar without any school or teacher, and became closer to the music, the cinema, the poesy and more worried about social subjects.
In 1965 started the Law College, and during the academic degree was selected for a scholarship in the renowned Harvard University. It was a short course about conservative politics.
In 1970 (after graduating) moved to Rio de Janeiro, and subscribed to an important Song Festival with Geraldo Azevedo and Jackson do Pandeiro. One music was classified, and Alceu who worked like journalist felt more and more involved with the music career.
After some shows and few LPs, was invited by Sergio Ricardo to star in the movie A Noite do Espantalho, like leading man. Without success, goes to live in Paris.
Back to Brazil in the early 80’s, recorded the LP Coração Bobo, with great success of the homonymy music. After this CD his career moved upward. He composed many popular songs, starred another movie and wrote a book, becoming reference of intellectuality and good music.
Highlights for the presentation in the Rock in Rio II (1991), awarded as the best presentation of the Festival; his relative success in France, and the project Grande Encontro that Alceu divides the stage with the stars Elba Ramalho, Geraldo Azevedo and Zé Ramalho.
With songs like Morena Tropicana, Anunciação, Voltei Recife, Vampira and others, became one of the best national references of the Northeastern identity, describing himself as “a mirror of the folk.” Alceu is proud of not imitating any musician. His songs connect us to different musical universes such as the Frevo and the Carnival of Recife, Xote, Baião, Xaxado, Maracatu, Repente, Cordel Literature, Rock and Blues.
I present here some of his most popular songs. Enjoy it and share with us what You think about!