Almir Chediak

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1967–2003

Genres

mpb, bossa nova

Instruments

guitar

Biography

Almir Chediak was a multi-faceted Brazilian musician, producer, composer, researcher, and publisher who profoundly shaped the study and preservation of Brazilian popular music. Born in Rio de Janeiro and raised partly in Minas Gerais, he began studying classical guitar under the legendary Dino 7 Cordas and harmony with Ian Guest, starting his career as a teacher and composer while still a teenager. Throughout his life, Chediak dedicated himself to educational and editorial projects, publishing influential instructional books such as Dicionário de Acordes Cifrados and Harmonia e Improvisação, and mentoring prominent artists like Tim Maia and Gal Costa.

In 1986, he founded Lumiar Editora, followed by Lumiar Discos, establishing platforms to immortalize the nation's musical heritage. He is best known for creating the monumental Songbook da MPB series in 1988, an ambitious project that meticulously compiled scores, lyrics, and chords reviewed by the original composers. His definitive songbooks covered iconic Brazilian figures such as Tom Jobim, Chico Buarque, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Vinicius de Moraes, and Djavan, frequently accompanied by tribute albums featuring generations of MPB and rock artists.

Chediak's life was tragically cut short in May 2003 when he was murdered during a robbery at his property in Petrópolis. Despite his untimely death, his enduring contributions transformed him into a pillar of Brazilian musical scholarship. His comprehensive songbooks remain essential reference materials for musicians, educators, and historians studying the rich tapestry of Brazilian popular music alongside peers and contemporaries like Wagner Tiso and Jards Macalé.