Badú
He is a musician, singer and songwriter of Samba, Pagode and Popular Brazilian Music.
Badú Obà, Getúlio de Sousa is born and bred in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was born on June 20, 1950, in São Fidelis, a beautiful spot of tropical forest, waterfalls and tranquillity but without work for his mother.
In 1957, the mother separated and left 5 of her children with a sister in São Fidelis and went with Badú, her youngest son, to the city of Rio de Janeiro, to stay at the house of her other sister who lived in the now extinct "Skeleton Favela", who lived in a shack with five children. They spent a year in this favela. The Skeleton Favela is named after the unfinished UFRJ (Federal University of Rio De Janeiro), which at that time the unfinished building resembled as an skeleton.
The mother sought out work with a family house in Tijuca neighbourhood at Barão de Mesquita street, 148, next to St. Joseph's College. But the family did not want to hire Badú's mother, because she had a small child and this family didn't want Badú living in their house. This family suggested another house in the same street for the mother to enquire for work, but it was winter, it was raining, cold and Badu was without a coat, and being very skinny and small he looked like he was 6 years old, nevertheless he was 8 years old.
The family felt sorry and said to their mother, Badú's own words: "You go and see if you can get the job and leave the boy sitting here on the porch. 'And there I sat waiting for my mother in that house, and I've stayed there from 8 to 24 years old. The mother did not get the job at this family home and Badú stayed living with this family and his mother returned to her sister's house in the Skeleton Favela.
This family fell in love with Badú, strangely having refused to give the job to the mother who had also been refused in the other indicated house, this family raised Badú to help his mother find a job and work without the burden... such an irony of destiny.
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In this family house had a black-white television, which Badú had never seen before and had a program called "Clube do Gurí" from the extinct TV Tupi. Badú watched the children singing live and felt he could sing better and earn money to help his mother. But the family was raising him did not want to know anything about him singing. Badú did not sing in the house or in the shower and, being shy person till now a days, neither on the street he sang. It remained locked inside his imagination the will to sing...
Badú's first singing experience took place on a live stage at the age of 16, in 1966, in the First Music Festival of the Salesian College in Niterói, Rio De Janeiro State. Incredibly, he sang three songs of his own composition, but to enter the festival contest he had to use his "Little Brazilian Knack Ways", registering at the festival with the name of a friend who was a student at this college.
Songs: Inês - Está Chovendo (It's Raining) - No Carnaval que Passou (The Carnival that passed by), the latter came in nienth place at the Salesian College Music Festival. First time on stage in his brief life and he was accompanied at the piano by maestro Alfonso who was a conductor of the the school band and the choir.
From there he began to sing with some bands at local parties, wedding and in the night life of Niterói. In 1969 he started working at Rio de Janeiro Galeão International Airport, as a luggage freight forwarder, he worked for 3 years and the first salary he got paid he helped his mother and also bought a very old guitar and painted it white. He had never played guitar, did not know how to tune, but he played and played and even more played it, tightening the strings he discovered the chords.
He soon began to compose his songs with only those out of tune accords.
His first professional appearance was with the trio Os Tincoãs on TV Rio Canal 13, José Messias Program, in the winter of 1975. First recording studio experience: In the IME Odeon Studio. He also recorded a double compact with the song "Ajaguã" that participated in the MPB Shell in 1984 of TV Globo. Also recorded the song "Banzo" Soundtrack of the TV Globo soap opera called: Novela Escrava Isáura. With Martinho da Vila, together with the choir Trio Tincoãs, he recorded the songs "Vieram Me Contar", "Violeta Parra" and "Gracias Por La Vida". (Martinho da vila song on video at the foot of this page)
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From 1976 till 1984 he played live with Martinho da Villa, which is one of the most famous samba and pagode singers of Brazil.
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In 1990, Badú packed his rack sack and his acoustic guitar and left Brazil searching for new musical horizons. For over 30 years he has been living in Spain, of those years 25 years on the island of Gran Canaria, near mother Africa, Canary Islands. He's been living by playing and singing his songs and enjoyed his life on this island which has a micro-climate continent style. He Married a local Canarian, Elvira Rodriguez Ramirez, and they are happy with their lives.
Badú sings and plays his songs night time at bars, restaurants, hotels and, many times without sleep, plays for the tourists heading along the beach pathways of Maspalomas, passing his "Cartola" style hat... with a lot of dignity, satisfaction and reward.
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Badú Obà is interested to record his music with a record label... he is that rare kind of true magical musician that never really tried stardom... but it's time to leave his music print and make his new songs be heard and enjoyed by many others.
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Also he could approve other artists to record his new compositions, if he likes the version of his songs being sang by another singer.
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So please contact me if you fell in love with his songs and if you have a contact to connect Badú to be recorded... it will be SHOW.
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Thank you for visiting this supportive site and listening to Badú Obà songs. Axé!
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