Carlinhos Brown is a Brazilian singer, percussionist, record producer, social activist, and record label owner, best known as the creator of the Brazilian musical supergroup Timbalada that incorporated a massive ensemble of performers on-stage, which resulted in 14 studio albums released between 1993 and 2008. Those were Timbalada (1993), Cada Cabeça é um Mundo (1994), Andei Road (1995), Mineral (1996), Mãe de Samba (1997), Vamos Dar a Volta No Guetho – Ao Vivo (1998), …Pense Minha Cor… (1999), Millennium (1999), Timbalisimo (2001), Motumba Bless (2002), Pure Brazil: Tribal Bahia – The Best of Timbalada (2004), Serviço De Animação Popular (2004), Axe Bahia: O Melhor De Timbalada (2006), and Alegria Original (2008).
Carlinhos was also known as the co-founder of the Brazilian musical supergroup Tribalistas with 2 other musicians. The group released 2 self-titled studio albums – Tribalistas (2002), and Tribalistas (2017). Carlinhos successfully launched his solo career as a singer, composer, and a musician in 1996 with his debut solo album Alfagamabetizado. Omelete Man (1998) followed quickly, and then releases of Bahia do Mundo, Mito e Verdad (2001), Carlinhos Brown é Carlito Marrón (2003), Candyall Beat (2004), A Gente Ainda Não Sonhou (2007), Adobró (2010), Diminuto (2010), Mixturada Brasileira (2012), Marabó (2014), Vibraaasil (2014), and Sarau du Brown (2015). He founded his own record label, Candyall Records, and was known as the coach for the TV reality singing competition The Voice Brazil (2012-2018), and The Voice Kids, starting in 2016.
Sun Sign
Sagittarius
Residence
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
Nationality
Manager
Carlinhos Brown is represented by Candyall Entertainment (Manager, Publicist) in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.
Genre
Jazz, Brazilian Jazz, MPB, Samba-Reggae
Instruments
Vocals, Percussions, Drums, Guitar
Labels
- Candyall Entertainment
- Universal Music
Girlfriend / Spouse
Carlinhos Brown has dated –
- Raquel Machado (Jacobs) – Carlinhos rarely spoke about the relationship with Raquel, except that they have a daughter together, named Nina De Freitas (b. 1990).
- Helena Buarque de Hollanda – Carlinhos has kept his relationship, and subsequent marriage to Helena away from the public eye as well. They have 4 children together – 3 daughters and 1 son – Francisco Buarque de Freitas (b. August 24, 1996), Clara Buarque de Freitas (b. November 23, 1998), Cecília Buarque de Freitas (b. December 25, 2006), and Leila Buarque de Freitas (b. October 21, 2009).
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Long afro or dreads haircut
- Often wears sunglasses and a turban
- Salt and pepper beard
Brand Endorsements
Carlinhos Brown has promoted charities such as –
- Pracatum Music School (Pracatum Project) (1994)
- Red Hot Organization (1998)
- National Joy Day
- Countdown: Save Biodiversity (2010)
Religion
Candomblé (African-Brazilian religious tradition)
Best Known For
- Releasing 14 albums with the musical ensemble Timbalada released between 1993 and 2008
- Being the co-founder of the musical supergroup Tribalistas with 2 other musicians, and releasing 2 studio albums – Tribalistas (2002), and Tribalistas (2017)
- His solo career that started in 1996 with the album Alfagamabetizado, and 11 studio albums released until 2015
First Album
Carlinhos Brown released his debut solo studio album titled Alfagamabetizado in 1996 under Delabel and EMI record labels. It consisted of 16 tracks, out of which the most notable were Angel’s Robot List, Covered Saints, Argila, Tour, O Bode, Bog la Bag, Frases Ventias, Mares de Ti, and Zanza.
Carlinhos Brown, as part of the musical supergroup Tribalistas released his debut self-titled studio album Tribalistas on November 22, 2002. It sold 3.5 million copies worldwide, and 2.3 million in Brazil alone. It reached a certified ‘Diamond’ status by ABPD, 4 times ‘Platinum’ by AFP and 3 times ‘Platinum’ status by FIMI.
First Film
Carlinhos Brown made his first theatrical film appearance with an uncredited singer role in the action-adventure film Speed 2: Cruise Control in 1997.
Later in 1997, he made a credited appearance in the film Razor in the Flesh.
First TV Show
Carlinhos Brown made his first TV show appearance as himself in an episode of the comedy talk-show Nulle part ailleurs on June 4, 1996.
Carlinhos Brown Favorite Things
- People – Paulo Gaudenzi, Marcelo Yuka, Makota Valdina, Buja Ferreira
- Interests – Social Activity, Sewing, Capoeira, Dancing, Urban Development, Painting
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Carlinhos Brown Facts
- He was born in a very poor neighborhood and worked on carrying tin buckets filled with water to neighbors’ homes to earn some money and help his family.
- He learned about drums at an early age by tapping on empty tin buckets of water and making a beat. When approaching a neighbor’s house, he would incorporate the beat of a song playing on the radio, and practice.
- His artist name, Carlinhos Brown, was a tribute to the well known African-American pop singer, James Brown.
- Pintado do Bongo, a well known Brazilian percussionist, noticed his talent and began teaching him. At the age of 17, Carlinhos was already so good at percussions that he started performing professionally.
- Because he performed when he was still underage, when authorities came to do a check, he had to hide under the table to prevent being caught.
- Another one of his mentors was Osvaldo Alves da Silva, who taught him about Brazilian folklore and folk music in general.
- Around 1985, he won a Caymmi trophy, which was one of the most notable music awards in Bahia, Brazil. This allowed Carlinhos to go on a world tour with well-known performers in Brazil – João Bosco, João Gilberto, and Djavan.
- Carlinho started to teach other people around him about basic percussion patterns, which slowly evolved into a massive group named Timbalada.
- At one point, there were so many performers and people watching the performance of Timbalada, that Carlinho had to build a concert stadium in order to house everyone that came to watch.
- Carlinhos worked with American musicians Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and Bill Laswell on the album titled Ritual Beating System in 1992.
- In 1996, Carlinho was invited by the Brazilian metal band Sepultura to appear on their album Roots. They built both a working and personal relationship, and later worked with him whenever they sought his musical creativity.
- The non-profit organization he founded in 1994, Pracatum Music School, taught more than music. It was directed towards children living in poverty and helped them with dancing, writing, sewing, and developing their individual talents, whatever they may be.
- Carlinho raised money for health reforms, paving the streets, fixing sewer systems, and building houses in his home town of Candeal.
- For his contribution to the hometown, Carlinho was featured in a 2004 documentary titled El Milagro de Candeal, which translates as The Miracle of Candeal. It followed the progress of changing a shady, poor town, into a colorful place filled with music.
- On March 20, 2019, Carlinhos announced that his 2nd solo album, Omelete Man (1998), would soon be re-released on all digital platforms.
- He was motivated by the constant complaints of the fans of his early albums that weren’t able to listen to his music on their smart devices to start releasing old songs digitally.
- In 2012, Carlinho was nominated for an Oscar at the Academy Awards event for “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song” for the movie Rio (2011).
Featured Image by Carlinhos Brown / Instagram
Facts of Antônio Carlos Santos de Freitas
- Gender Male
- full nameAntônio Carlos Santos de Freitas
- nicknamesCarlinhos, Carlos
- birthplaceCandeal Pequeno, Bairro de Brotas, Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
- ethnicity / ethnic backgroundBrazilian
- nationalityBrazilian
- net worth$100,000 - $1Million
- professionSinger, Percussionist, Record Producer, Record Label Owner, Social Activist
- weight87 kg or 192 lbs
- height6 ft 3 in or 190.5 cm
- hair colorBlack
- eye colorDark Brown
- body type / buildAthletic
- motherMadalena de Freitas
- fatherRenato de Freitas