Marcos Farias

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years Active

1966

Genres

MPB, forró, samba, baião, jazz, bossa nova, soul music

Instruments

piano, accordion, percussion

Biography

Marcos Farias is a renowned Brazilian conductor, pianist, accordionist, arranger, music producer, and composer, born on September 14, 1961, in Rio de Janeiro. The son of northeastern music icons Marinês and Abdias dos Oito Baixos, Marcos Farias grew up immersed in the rich tradition of Brazilian popular music. His musical career began early when he was introduced as a child prodigy, playing percussion instruments on the stages of radio stations such as Rádio Nacional and Rádio Mayrink Veiga, accompanying his parents and major names like Luiz Gonzaga.

With a career spanning over 55 years, Marcos Farias established himself as one of the youngest music producers in Latin America and a conductor for CBS Discos (now Sony Music) in the 1970s. He pioneered the creation of private recording studios and the introduction of digital technology, democratizing independent artists' access to the phonographic market. His versatility led him to compose soundtracks for highly successful Rede Globo telenovelas, such as "Pedra sobre Pedra", "Renascer", and "O Rei do Gado", in addition to participating in national films.

Throughout his career, Marcos Farias has toured Brazil and the world, collaborating with and producing for a vast array of renowned artists, including Elba Ramalho, Zé Ramalho, Fagner, Alceu Valença, Gilberto Gil, Jorge Benjor, Tim Maia, Roberto Carlos, and Dominguinhos. He has also worked as a teacher and mentor, teaching the accordion course at the Escola Brasileira de Choro in Brasília, and remains active in his studio and production company, keeping his parents' artistic heritage alive and contributing to the renewal of Brazilian music.