Neco do Violão

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

Daudeth Azevedo

Years active

1957–2009

Genres

bossa nova, samba, choro

Instruments

guitar, cavaquinho, 7-string guitar, viola, banjo, electric guitar

Biography

Daudeth Azevedo, widely known as Neco do Violão, was a distinguished Brazilian guitarist, composer, and arranger born in Rio de Janeiro on September 23, 1932. A self-taught musician, Neco honed his skills further by studying harmony with renowned maestros Guerra Peixe and Moacir Santos. His career began in 1957 with a 78 rpm recording, and he went on to participate in hundreds of albums, becoming a sought-after studio musician in Rio de Janeiro for over four decades. Neco's instrumental prowess extended to various instruments, including guitar, cavaquinho, 7-string guitar, viola, banjo, and electric guitar.

Neco do Violão's discography includes several solo albums, such as "Samba em nova concepção" (1963), "Coquetel bossa nova – Neco e seu violão" (1963), "Samba e violão" (1967), and "Samba e violão Vol. 2" (1968). He was also a key member of influential groups like Os Ipanemas, alongside Astor Silva, Rubens Bassini, Wilson das Neves, and Luiz Marinho, releasing albums in 1966 and later in the 2000s. Additionally, he was part of Banda Veneno (led by Erlon Chaves), Os Catedráticos (led by Eumir Deodato), and Os Gatos (led by Durval Ferreira).

Throughout his extensive career, Neco collaborated with a vast array of Brazilian music icons, including Miltinho, Roberto Carlos, Elis Regina, Beth Carvalho, Tim Maia, Milton Nascimento, Raul Seixas, Chico Buarque, Caetano Veloso, and many others. His contributions as a guitarist and arranger significantly shaped the sound of Brazilian popular music. Neco do Violão passed away on August 24, 2009, in Rio de Janeiro, leaving behind a rich legacy as one of Brazil's most important guitarists of his generation.