Biography

Luciana Rabello has had noted participation in the support of the choro genre. One of the few soloists of cavaquinho, she participated, with her brother Raphael Rabello, in several groups. She was also in the Camerata Carioca, one of the most important choro groups of the '70s and '80s, which counted on, among other talents, Radamés Gnattali. She has been recording with important names of Brazilian music and released her first solo album in 2000, through her own label, Acari Records. Rabello began to learn the violão (acoustic guitar) with her grandfather at age six. She also studied classical piano for five years. At 13, she started to write her own compositions. In 1975, she formed the choro group Os Carioquinhas with her brother Raphael and members Paulinho do Bandolim, Théo (six-string violão), and Mário (pandeiro), and she switched to the cavaquinho. Soon Maurício Carrilho replaced Théo, and Celsinho Silva (percussion) joined the group. With the dissolution of the Os Carioquinhas in 1978, Luciana, Raphael, Carrilho, and Silva were invited by Joel Nascimento to accompany him at Radamés Gnattali's "Retratos" suite. Excited with the result, Radamés decided to join the formation and the Camerata Carioca was created. The group, which blended elements of choro and erudite music, had a prominent role in the revitalization of the genre. After her departure of the Camerata (together with Raphael and Silva) for her solo work, she has been accompanying names (in recording sessions and live shows) like Elizeth Cardoso, Paulinho da Viola, Cristóvão Bastos, Francis Hime, Chico Buarque, Martinho da Vila, Joel Nascimento, Baden Powell, Toquinho, Copinha, and Abel Ferreira. In 1981 and 1982, she toured Europe. She married Paulo César Pinheiro in 1985. Jonas, the cavaquinho player of the Época de Ouro, dedicated the choro "Manga Rosa" to her, which she recorded on her first solo album, Luciana Rabello, released in 2000 through her own label (with Maurício Carrilho) Acari Records, which specialized in artistic popular music. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi