Biography

Walter Franco was a composer who made important contributions displayed in the historic festivals of Brazilian popular music. As a student of dramatic arts, Walter Franco wrote music for several plays by Albee, Esquilo, and others. In 1971, he wrote the theme song of the soap opera Hospital, which was released as a single. He participated in the first, second, and third Festival Universitário of TV Tupi with the songs "Não se Queima um Sonho" (performed by Geraldo Vandré), "Sol de Vidro" (with Eneida, taking third place), and, in the third festival, "Animal Sentimental" and "Pátio dos Loucos." "Cabeça," presented in the VII FIC, in 1972, received a special prize in the festival despite widespread booing because of the content. In 1973 he recorded his first LP, Não, possibly the one which sold the least copies in the history of Brazilian phonography. The album opened what Franco called the "Cycle of No," the negation of the dark period of dictatorship. At the Abertura festival two years later, his "Muito Tudo" won third place, in spite of being received with jeering again. This opened the "Cycle of Yes," where, with the help of yoga and pacifism, he advocated positive thoughts against violence. The rock album Revolver came out in this period (1976). Three years later Franco participated in TV Tupi's festival with "Canalha." In 1982 he performed "Serra do Luar" in the MPB shell. In 1984, his song "Seja Feita a Vontade do Povo" was successful during the campaign for the democratic elections. In 1997, Franco toured Brazil with the show Não Violência. He also released other albums throughout his career, including Ou não (reissued as a CD in 1994), Respire Fundo, Vela Aberta. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi