Beto Marques

Origin

Itapetinga, BA

Also known as

Jackson Roberto de Sousa Marques

Years Active

1963

Genres

MPB, samba, reggae, jovem guarda, tropicalismo

Instruments

vocals, guitar, violin, piano

Biography

Beto Marques, born Jackson Roberto de Sousa Marques on September 22, 1949, in Itapetinga, Bahia, is a Brazilian singer, composer, guitarist, and violinist. His musical journey began at the age of nine with piano and music theory studies. In 1963, he joined the band Os Átomos, which performed covers of popular Brazilian and international music. Marques also pursued a career in dentistry, enrolling in dental school in 1970.

In 1974, Marques moved to the United States, where he lived for a year in Boston and studied at the New York School of Music. Upon his return to Brazil in 1975, he performed at the "1st Ecological Festival of Bahia" and joined the guitar group Microtons, led by Swiss professor Walter Smetack. He also formed the band Circo Fubá, with whom he performed in 1976. His first recorded composition, "Maria, Maria," was released by Lui Muritiba in the same year.

Marques has collaborated with numerous artists and had his compositions recorded by various singers. Luiz Melodia, for instance, recorded "Morar no Rio" and "Pintando o sete." His work has also been featured on compilation albums, such as "Conexão carioca 3" in 2002, where he performed his own composition "Me siga." He has also explored reggae versions of songs, including Bob Marley's "Waiting in vain" on his 1999 CD "3ª visão."