Biography

Author of over 300 recorded songs, Fausto Nilo wrote several hits registered by many top artists: "Amor nas Estrelas" (with Roberto de Carvalho), recorded by Nara Leão; "Pão e Poesia" (with Moraes Moreira), "Pequenino Cão" (with Caio Sílvio), "Um Desejo Só Não Basta" (with Francisco Casaverde), "Você É Real" (with Piska), all recorded by Simone; "Retrato Marrom" (with Rodger Rogério), recorded by Ney Matogrosso; "Chorando e Cantando" (with Geraldo Azevedo), recorded by Elba Ramalho; "Bloco do Prazer" (with Moraes Moreira), recorded by Gal Costa; "Pedaço de Canção" (with Moraes Moreira); "Flor da Paisagem" (with Robertinho do Recife), recorded by Amelinha; "Cartaz" (with Francisco Casaverde); "Lua no Leblon" (with Lisieux Costa), recorded by Fagner; "Zanzibar," "Zero" (both with Armandinho), recorded by A Cor do Som; "Tudo com Você" (with Lulu Santos, recorded by the same); "Dona da Minha Cabeça" and "Você se Lembra" (with Geraldo Azevedo, recorded by Azevedo); "A Lua e o Mar" and "Eu Também Quero Beijar" (both with Pepeu Gomes, recorded by him); and "Pedras que Cantam" (with Dominguinhos, recorded by the accordionist). Since his childhood, initiated in the popular culture of his home region of Northeastern Brazil by his grandfather, who was fond of the music of the cantadores (minstrels), Fausto Nilo came to know in the 1970s the group of new poets/musicians Pessoal do Ceará (Fagner, Rodger Rogério, Belchior, Teti, Petrúcio Maia, Ricardo Bezerra, and Manassés). Some of them, like Fagner, started to put music into his poems, and in 1972 Marília Medalha recorded his "Fim do Mundo" (with Fagner). In 1976, Nilo started his partnership with Moraes Moreira, who had several hits with their collaboration; like "Santa Fé" (which was the opening theme of the soap opera Roque Santeiro), "Meninas do Brasil," "Coisa Acesa," "Bateu no Paladar," and others. After Simone's rendition of "Pequenino Cão" became a superhit, Nilo became a busy lyricist. Other artists that have recorded his songs since then are Maria Bethânia, Ednardo, Chico Buarque, Baby Consuelo, Caetano Veloso, Zé Ramalho, and Cidade Negra. His only CD as an interpreter of his own songs is Esquinas do Deserto, released in 1997. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi