Marcel Cazes

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1940–1990

Genres

mpb, choro

Instruments

violão

Biography

Marcel Raoul Henri Cazes was a Brazilian guitarist and composer, born in Rio de Janeiro on April 14, 1920. The son of Jules Henri Cazes and Camilla Amélia Rafin Cazes, he spent his childhood in the Vila Isabel neighborhood and, in his teens, moved to São Cristóvão, also in the capital of Rio de Janeiro. A self-taught guitarist, his musical trajectory was marked by a stint in military service during World War II, where he traveled to Santiago do Boqueirão (RS) and became the battalion's guitarist, teaching the instrument to other soldiers, such as Astor Benezath. Later, in Porto Alegre, he formed the vocal group "Os Cinco Pingos de Tinta", which performed on Rádio Farroupilha.

After the end of the war, Cazes returned to Rio de Janeiro, where he entered the civil service and married Maria Conceição, with whom he had four children: Hamilton, Glória, Humberto (Beto), and Henrique. It was around this time that he began composing songs, some of which won awards in music festivals. A milestone in his recording career came in 1985, at the age of 65, with the release of his first LP, "E assim eu vou vivendo", which received praise from specialized critics after decades of dedication to composition. The album featured appearances by renowned artists such as Zezé Gonzaga, Joyce, Dalmo Medeiros, Teca Calazans, and Claudia Savaget, as well as the voices of his wife Conceição and his children Beto and Haroldo Cazes.

Marcel Cazes passed away in Rio de Janeiro on April 24, 1990. His work, although it gained greater visibility with the release of his solo LP, was already recognized for its quality and sensitivity. Marcel Cazes's influence on Brazilian music extends through his sons, Beto Cazes, a percussionist, and Henrique Cazes, a cavaquinho player, composer, and arranger, both important figures in the musical scene, especially in the universe of choro and Brazilian popular music. Marcel Cazes's work continues to be promoted and celebrated, such as in the CD re-release of his album "E assim eu vou vivendo...", which included bonus tracks and remastering, keeping the memory of his musical legacy alive.