Nelson Angelo

Origin

Belo Horizonte, MG

Years Active

1966

Genres

MPB, clube da esquina, jazz fusion, samba, bossa nova

Instruments

acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals

Biography

Nelson Angelo is a fundamental figure in the development of the Clube da Esquina movement, a blend of folk, jazz, and progressive pop that emerged from the state of Minas Gerais. Born in Belo Horizonte, he began his professional journey in the mid-1960s, quickly becoming a key collaborator for Milton Nascimento. His move to Rio de Janeiro expanded his horizons, leading to formal studies in music theory and voice while performing in the city's vibrant club scene.

Throughout the 1970s, Angelo was a member of several experimental and highly influential ensembles, including Luiz Eça's A Sagrada Família and the group A Tribo. His partnership with the singer and songwriter Joyce (to whom he was married) resulted in the iconic 1972 album "Nelson Angelo & Joyce," a cornerstone of Brazilian psych-folk. He also formed a celebrated trio with Naná Vasconcelos and Novelli, recording avant-garde Brazilian music that gained recognition in Europe.

Beyond his work as a performer, Nelson Angelo is a prolific composer whose songs have been recorded by some of the greatest voices in Brazil. His lyrical collaborations with poets like Cacaso and Ronaldo Bastos are hallmarks of the MPB repertoire. In the 1980s, he continued to bridge genres by joining A Turma do Funil and participating in the Clube do Samba alongside João Nogueira, demonstrating his versatility across both sophisticated harmonic structures and traditional samba rhythms.

Discography

• Nelson Angelo e Joyce (1972)
• Nana, Nelson Angelo, Novelli (1975)
• Nelson Angelo (1984)
• Mineiro Pau (1984)
• Violão e Outras Coisas (1990)
• A Vida Leva (1994)
• Cateretê (2000)
• Mar de Mineiro Parcerias com Cacaso (2002)
• Tempos Diferentes (2007)
• Nana, Nelson Angelo, Novelli (2016)
• Nelson Angelo 2018 (2018)
• Trilha Sonora de uma Viagem (2018)
• O Pensador (2019)
• Vitral do Tempo (2019)
• Nelson Angelo Convida Carlos Di Jaguarão – Cantos Espirituais (2021)
• Canções Adultas (2022)
• Tearaeza Sinfonia (2023)
• Cross Fire (2025)
• Retalhos do Universo Musical (2025)
• Minas em Meu Coração
• Times Square