Lincoln Olivetti

Origin

Nilópolis, RJ

Years active

1966–2015

Genres

mpb, soul, funk, boogie, pop

Instruments

keyboards, synthesizer, piano, organ

Biography

Lincoln Olivetti was a renowned Brazilian maestro, arranger, instrumentalist, keyboardist, musical producer, and composer who played a pivotal role in shaping the sound of Brazilian soul, funk, MPB, boogie, and pop music alongside guitarist Robson Jorge during the 1970s and 1980s. Born in Nilópolis, Rio de Janeiro, he displayed an early aptitude for music influenced by his amateur musician father, entering the Nova Iguaçu Conservatory at age five and later studying at the National School of Music. Throughout his prolific career, Olivetti became a legendary figure in Brazilian recording studios, providing arrangements and playing keyboards for iconic artists such as Gal Costa, Gilberto Gil, Tim Maia, Jorge Ben Jor, and Rita Lee. His mastery of cutting-edge electronic instruments and synthesizers brought a sophisticated, modern aesthetic to Brazilian popular music, earning him the affectionate moniker "The Wizard of Pop."

Despite his massive commercial success and widespread demand as an arranger—reaching a peak of over 300 arrangements a year in the early 1980s—Olivetti faced criticism from purists who accused him and Robson Jorge of "pasteurizing" Brazilian music with Americanized electronic elements. This criticism, combined with his eccentricities and introverted temperament, contributed to a prolonged period of self-imposed seclusion during which he worked extensively in his home studio, arranging for children's music acts and major artists alike. Later in his life and posthumously, Olivetti experienced a widespread critical re-evaluation, being celebrated by newer generations of musicians and international DJs as a true pioneer of Brazilian boogie and modern production.

In the later decades of his career, Olivetti collaborated with contemporary artists such as Lulu Santos, Ed Motta, Alexandre Kassin, and Marina Elali, while also serving as a bandleader for television productions like Rede Globo's The Voice Brasil. His legendary 1982 collaborative album with Robson Jorge became an international cult classic, highly sought after by collectors and crate-diggers worldwide. Lincoln Olivetti passed away on January 13, 2015, leaving behind a monumental legacy that forever transformed the landscape of Brazilian arrangements and studio recording standards.