Juca Novaes

Origin

Avaré, SP

Also known as

José de Araujo Novaes Neto

Years Active

1981

Genres

MPB, samba, forró, rock, pop, blues, toada

Instruments

vocals, acoustic guitar, piano

Biography

Juca Novaes, artistic name of José de Araujo Novaes Neto, is a renowned Brazilian singer, songwriter, and music producer, born in Avaré, São Paulo, on November 29, 1958. Son of Maria Piedade, a singer on Rádio Nacional de São Paulo, and great-nephew of piano teacher Esther Novaes, Juca Novaes had contact with music since childhood, studying piano and acoustic guitar, as well as music theory, composition, and conducting. His artistic career is marked by strong participation in music festivals, having won the PUC Festival in 1981 and performed in various musical circuits. He is also the creator of the Avaré Popular Music Fair (FAMPOP), a festival that helped reveal important names in MPB such as Lenine, Chico César, and Rita Ribeiro.

Throughout his career, Juca Novaes was part of the group Fruto Primeiro, with which he released independent albums and performed in important cultural spaces. As a solo artist, he established himself with albums like "Goa" (2010), "Aldeia" (2009), and "Goa ao vivo" (2012), in addition to "Canções de Primeira – Volume 2" (2017), which was nominated for the Brazilian Music Award. His work as a composer is vast, with dozens of songs recorded by artists such as Jane Duboc and Alaíde Costa, and partnerships with names like Eduardo Santhana, Toquinho, Guilherme Arantes, and Toninho Horta.

In addition to his work as a musician and composer, Juca Novaes is an important cultural producer and lawyer specialized in copyright law. He directed the Carrefour MPB Festival and worked as a consultant, juror, and coordinator in various musical events. His contribution to Brazilian music extends to his participation as a founding member of the group Trovadores Urbanos and his work in the copyright management society Abramus.

Discography

• Kathmandu (2001)
• Lua do Brasil (2001)
• Aldeia (2008)
• Goa (2010)
• Goa ao Vivo (2012)
• Canções de Primeira, Vol.1 (2014)
• Canções de Primeira, Vol. 2 (2017)
• Regalos (2020)
• Canções de Primeira, Vol.3 (2025)