Toninho da Viola

Origin

Jaborandi, SP

Also known as

Antonio Lubianchi, Toninho de Viola

Genres

música caipira, sertanejo, moda de viola

Instruments

viola caipira, violão

Biography

Antonio Lubianchi, known artistically as Toninho da Viola, was a renowned Brazilian viola player, singer, and songwriter. Born in Jaborandi, São Paulo, on March 16, 1944, he moved to Uberaba, Minas Gerais, in 1969, where he put down roots and became a prominent figure in the music scene.

From an early age, Toninho da Viola showed an interest in music, influenced by the duo Zé Carreiro and Carreirinho. Initially known as Toninho do Violão, he later dedicated himself to the viola caipira, developing in a self-taught way a peculiar "dotted" technique that became his trademark. In addition to his mastery of the viola, he also worked as a teacher, singer, and songwriter, and even hosted a local television show.

Toninho da Viola is widely considered one of the greatest exponents of the viola caipira in Brazil, an artist who dedicated his life to Brazilian music with passion and soul. His work celebrates sertaneja culture and the identity of the country's interior, leaving a legacy of songs and performances that continue to inspire new generations of musicians and lovers of traditional root music. He passed away in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, on March 12, 2022.