Vox Populi

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1969–1970

Genres

mpb, psychedelic rock, bossa nova

Instruments

piano, bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, drums, percussion, vocals

Biography

Vox Populi was a Brazilian vocal and instrumental group formed in 1969, with activities concentrated in the years 1969 and 1970. The group emerged during a period of musical effervescence in Brazil, marked by the fusion of genres and the search for new sounds.

The original lineup of Vox Populi featured Helvius Vilela (piano), Fernando Leporace (bass, vocals, and arrangements), Guto Graça Melo (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and vocals), Gegê de Souza (drums), Laudir de Oliveira (percussion), Amauri Tristão (vocals), Tavinho (vocals), and Marisa (vocals). Later, Tavinho and Marisa were replaced by Cecília Saldanha and Luís Fernando Werneck on vocals, and Normando took over the drums, replacing Gegê de Souza.

In 1969, the group participated in the 2nd Brazilian University Music Festival (TV Tupi), presenting the song "Passarinhada" by Ruy Maurity and José Jorge Miquinioty. That same year, they released the LP "Vox Populi", which included songs like "Ah", "Caleidoscópio", "Domingo", "Eu", "Passarinhada", "Tornado", "Asteroide sonora", "Ventania", "Gira Girou", "Here, there and everywhere", "Vera Cruz", and "Cidade grande". In 1970, the group toured Mexico, where they stayed for a year until their disbandment. In 2002, the LP recorded in 1969 was re-released on CD. Vox Populi's sound mixed MPB, psychedelic music, and bossa nova, with influences from Sergio Mendes's Bossa Rio sound and 1960s West Coast music, creating a new Brazilian "groove" with songs that explored themes such as the space age and spiritual freedom, engaging in a dialogue with the work of artists like Milton Nascimento and Marcos Valle.