Raul Seixas

Often hailed as the "Father of Brazilian Rock," Raul Seixas recorded 21 albums during his career, including a number of iconic releases during the 1970s. The Brazilian songwriter was born in Salvador, Bahia, on June 28, 1945, and became a fan of American pop culture as a child. He formed his first band, Raulzito e os Panteras, at 12 years old, modeling the band's music after rock & roll pioneers like Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard the 1960s. The group built an audience throughout the 1960s and released a self-titled album before splitting up in 1968. Disillusioned with his career as a performer, Raul Seixas began working for CBS as a producer. He began making music again in 1971, when he teamed up with Edy Star, vocalist Sergio Sampaio, samba artist Miriam Batucada for the collaborative album Sociedade da Grã-Ordem Kavernista Apresenta Sessão das Dez . He then began working with co-writer on a number of solo records, including 1973's Krig-ha, Bandolo! (which featured the single "Ouro de Tolo"), 1974's gold-selling Gita, and 1975's Novo Aeon. When the Brazilian government deemed his work to be subversive, Raul Seixes went into exile in the United States, where he continued releasing albums during much of the 1980s. His final record, A Panela do Diabo, was released two days before his death on August 21, 1989, with Seixas succumbing to cardiac arrest at the age of 44.