Raul Seixas

Raul Seixas (June 28, 1945 – August 21, 1989), was a Brazilian composer, singer, and songwriter. He was born in Salvador (Bahia), Brazil, and died of a heart attack.

Biography

As a child living near the United States consulate in Salvador, he became fluent in the English language, and was introduced to 50's rock music by artists including Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis. Elvis' music in particular was influential in the young Raul's decision to become a musician.

Related Topics:
United States - English language - Little Richard - Jerry Lee Lewis - Elvis

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At age of age eighteen Seixas formed his first group, Raulzito e os panteras ("Little Raul and The Panthers") They appeared on TV Salvador doing covers of Lewis, Little Richard and Elvis, a style of music which was at the time called "cowboy music" in Brazil.

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Later he moved to Rio de Janeiro . He was an English teacher before being hired by CBS as creative director.

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In the 70's Seixas became popular in urban centers such as Rio and Sao Paulo. Music broadcasted in TV and radios was satirical, sarcastic with esoteric themes . References to a wide range of historical and fictional personalities are found within his lyrics : Al Capone, Jesus, Julius Caesar and Shakespeare, for example. Seixas was subject to censorship during the Brazil's period of military rule. Like the music of his contemporaries such as Chico Buarque and others, Seixas' lyrics hide political messages within double meanings.

Related Topics:
Rio - Sao Paulo - Al Capone - Jesus - Julius Caesar - Shakespeare - Censorship - Period of military rule - Chico Buarque

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1971 also saw the beginning of a relationship with esoteric author Paulo Coelho, who would go on to write lyrics for several of Seixas' albums, beginning with Krig-Há-Bandolo in 1973. Through Coelho, Seixas was introduced to the work of controversial English mystic Aleister Crowley, which influenced their collaboration. The influence extended not only to music, but also to plans for the creation of the "Alternative Society," which was to be an anarchist community in the state of Minas Gerais based on Crowley's premise: "'Do what thou wilt' shall be the whole of the Law." The project was considered subversive by members of the Brazilian military, which imprisoned all prospective members of the group. Seixas and Coelho are reported to have been tortured during their imprisonment.

Related Topics:
Paulo Coelho - Aleister Crowley - Anarchist - Minas Gerais

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Seixas was then sent into exile in the United States, where his American wife of the time was living. (Seixas was married five times.) He would later claim that during his exile he had met his childhood heroes John Lennon and Jerry Lee Lewis, although this claim has been disputed.

Related Topics:
John Lennon - Jerry Lee Lewis

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Among persona non grata in the 80's and he feels his own decline in 80's. Perhaps as a result of drug addiction or alcoholism, the rate of Seixas' releases slowed through the late 70's and throughout the 80's. In later life Seixas suffered from diabetes and pancreatitis. His final album was released a few days before his death of a heart attack in 1989.

Related Topics:
Drug addiction - Alcoholism - Diabetes - Pancreatitis - Heart attack

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