Cacaso

Origin

Uberaba, MG

Also known as

Antônio Carlos de Brito

Years active

1960–1987

Genres

mpb, samba

Biography

Born in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, and living in Rio de Janeiro since childhood, Antônio Carlos de Brito, known artistically as Cacaso, stood out in Brazilian culture as a poet, professor, and highly relevant lyricist. In music, his skill with words revealed itself early on, composing samba lyrics for melodies created by friends such as Elton Medeiros and Maurício Tapajós. His lyrical and intellectual production deeply marked the 1960s and 1970s, associating with the so-called marginal poetry and mimeograph generation.

As a lyricist, Cacaso built a vast network of partnerships and friendships with some of the biggest names in MPB, collaborating with renowned artists such as Edu Lobo, Djavan, Tom Jobim, Toquinho, Sueli Costa, Cláudio Nucci, Francis Hime, João Donato, and Joyce Moreno. His compositions and poems captured the combative and creative spirit of the military dictatorship period, uniting lyricism, social criticism, and colloquialism. Books like A palavra cerzida, Grupo Escolar, and Na corda bamba consolidated his literary importance.

Cacaso passed away prematurely on December 27, 1987, the victim of a heart attack in Rio de Janeiro. His complete work was posthumously gathered in the book Lero-lero, and his cultural legacy continues to be celebrated, having inspired productions such as the biographical documentary Cacaso - Na Corda Bamba. His contribution to poetry and popular song remains an essential milestone of Brazilian artistic modernity.