Birth name A. Medeiros Junior Name Tony Babalu Also known as Babalu, Toni Role Composer | Instruments Guitar, bass, Years active 1970–present | |
 | ||
Born 29 December 1953 (age 70) Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil ( 1953-12-29 ) Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, record producer, artistic director Albums Balada na Noite, Live Sessions At Mosh Similar People Made in Brazil, Oswaldo Vecchione, Tutti Frutti, Ivan Busic, Serguei | ||
Record label Bertelsmann Music Group | ||
Tony Babalu is representative of the second generation of Brazilian guitar players. Experienced composer, arranger, producer, director and guitarist, one of his major features is an impressive power of synthesis, being, according to the critic Okky de Souza (Veja magazine's editor), "the most complete Brazilian guitarist, capable of shining in all genres linked to Pop and also of diving deeper into the priceless heritage of the Bluesmen who shaped the sound of the twentieth century".
Contents
1970s
Tony Babalu began his career in the 1970s, in the historically rocker neighborhood of Pompeia, in Sao Paulo (Brazil), as guitarist of legendary Made in Brazil band, being the author (with Oswaldo Vecchione) of 9 out of the 12 tracks from the legendary album "Pauliceia Desvairada", considered by "Folha de S. Paulo" one of the four key albums of the Brazilian rock of the 1970s. Between these tracks stand out "Gasolina", "Amanhã é um Novo Dia" and "Uma Banda Made in Brazil" (reissued on CD by BMG/Ariola).
1980s
In the 80s, Babalu participated in the MPB 80 festival (Globo TV) with the song "Cidade Louca" (Tony Babalu/Eliane Ribeiro – arrangement of Amilson Godoy), released on EP by TOP TAPE with the group Artigo de Luxo, and joined the celebrated rock band Quarto Crescente (which released an homonym album by RGE).
1990s
In 1991, Babalu created the audacious funk-rock band Bem Nascidos e Mal Criados, which became known in the alternative cultural scene of the city of Sao Paulo, and used to blaze the stage with its swung themes and visceral and electrifying performances, always with highly qualified musicians on stage.
2000s
In 2003, Babalu recorded his first instrumental work, the CD "Balada na Noite", in which he performed and programmed all the instruments and worked on the "Jazz-Rock-Blues" fusion, in an intimate and handicraft way.
Between 2005 and 2007, Babalu was responsible for directing and producing the CDs "Noite Proibida" (Marise Marra) and "Maga Lieri" (Maga Lieri), both released by label Amellis Records (Tratore's distribution).
Up until 2011, Babalu's performed concerts going through several stages of his career in places like MIS-SP (Image and Sound Museum of the State of Sao Paulo), Galeria Olido, Centro Cultural SP, SESCs, SESIs and others, and eventually participated in the work of friends like band Made In Brazil, the Belgian band Mind Priority, singer Penha Pinheiro and musicians such as Duofel and Madan, with whom he recorded the song "Vamos Todo Mundo" (Madan/Paulo Flexa), Brazilian theme song of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence (2009).
In 2012, Babalu founded the instrumental power trio BETAGROOVEBAND, with Marina Abramowicz on drums and PV Ribeiro on bass.
In 2014, Babalu released the instrumental CD "Live Sessions at Mosh", consisting of 6 long themes grounded on influences from rock, blues, ballads and grooves. Recorded at legendary Mosh Studio (Sao Paulo/Brazil) using traditional analogue tape recording, the whole studio process was prepared and implemented in order to ensure all elements of a live performance. The band recruited by Tony Babalu, who also signs the CD's production, features the equally experienced Franklin Paolillo on drums, Adriano Augusto on keys and Leandro Gusman on bass. The CD was released through label Amellis Records and distributed by Tratore, and is available in sites like Deezer and Itunes.