Sérgio Dias

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Years Active

1966

Genres

psychedelic rock, tropicalia, progressive rock, MPB, rock

Instruments

electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals

Biography

Sérgio Dias Baptista was born in the city of São Paulo on December 1, 1950. The son of a pianist and composer mother, he began his musical journey in his teens, learning to play the acoustic guitar on his own by listening to records and imitating great instrumentalists. In the 1960s, he joined youth groups that culminated in the formation of the legendary band Os Mutantes, alongside his brother Arnaldo Baptista and singer Rita Lee. With the group, he became one of the pioneers and main names of the Tropicalist movement, besides consolidating an innovative psychedelic sound in Brazilian music.

Over the years, with the departure of the other founding members, Sérgio assumed leadership of Os Mutantes and guided the band toward progressive rock during the 1970s. At the same time, he developed a solid solo career, recording albums that traversed jazz, funk, samba, and rock, besides working as a studio musician and collaborating with various exponents of MPB and national rock, such as Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Erasmo Carlos, and Zé Ramalho. In the 1980s, he went to live in the United States, where he joined instrumental projects and carried out original and soundtrack work.

In the following decades, Sérgio promoted the long-awaited return of Os Mutantes on international stages and continued to release new albums, featuring heavyweight guest appearances like Tom Zé and Zélia Duncan. Recognized for his virtuosity on the electric guitar and for his undeniable contribution to Brazilian culture, he was voted one of the greatest electric and acoustic guitar icons in the country by Rolling Stone Brasil magazine, remaining active in the music scene and traveling through different countries throughout his life.

Discography

• Estação da Luz (2001)
• Jazz Mania (Live) (2020)
• Mind over Matter (2021)