Vital Farias

Vital Farias was a talented Brazilian composer who blended the folkloric influences of his northeastern culture with sophisticated elements. Many of his compositions were recorded by important artists such as Badi Assad, Fagner, Alceu Valença, Elba Ramalho, Zé Ramalho, and Geraldo Azevedo. Farias studied classical music and graduated in classical guitar in João Pessoa PB. In 1975 he moved to Rio de Janeiro RJ and worked as a musician for Chico Buarque's play, Gota D'Água. "Ê Mãe" was the first of Farias' compositions to be recorded. It was recorded with Livardo Alves by Ari Toledo. Other artists to record successful interpretations of Farias' songs were Marília Barbosa ("Caso Você Case," 1976, included in TV Globo's soap opera Saramandaia), Fábio Jr. ("Ai, Que Saudade D'Ocê" [1993], included in the soap opera Renascer), Netinho ("Ai, Que Saudade D'Ocê," 1996), Fagner ("Canção Em Dois Tempos," 1996), Alceu Valença, Elba Ramalho, Zé Ramalho, and Geraldo Azevedo ("Veja, Margarida," in the show O Grande Encontro, which was recorded live). Farias recorded his first solo album, Vital Farias (Polygram), in 1978. Together with Geraldo Azevedo, Xangai, and Elomar, he participated in the show Cantoria (1984), where the live albums Cantoria and Cantoria 2 were recorded. Farias died on February 5, 2025, at the age of 82. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi