Xico Chaves

Origin

Tiros, MG

Also known as

Francisco de Assis Chaves Bastos

Years Active

1967

Genres

MPB, poetry

Instruments

vocals

Biography

Xico Chaves is the artistic name of Francisco de Assis Chaves Bastos, a Brazilian lyricist, poet, visual artist, cultural producer, researcher, professor, and journalist born in Tiros, Minas Gerais, on February 6, 1948. He graduated in Arts and Communication Science from the University of Brasília (UnB) and the Centro Universitário de Brasília between 1967 and 1972, later earning the title of Notorious Knowledge in Visual Arts from UnB. Over the decades, he has established himself as a prominent figure in the Brazilian cultural scene, bridging poetry, visual arts, and MPB.

In December 1973, Xico Chaves collaborated with Jards Macalé to organize the historic concert Banquete dos Mendigos. The landmark performance resulted in a self-titled live album co-produced by Macalé and Chaves, which faced censorship during the military dictatorship and was only officially released in 1979. Beyond his production work, he has authored several literary and artistic books, including Pássaro Verde (1967), Pipa (1976), Purpurina (1977), Urucumfumaça (1979), and Poeta Clandestino (1986).

As a songwriter, Chaves boasts hundreds of compositions recorded by towering figures of MPB, such as Nara Leão, Caetano Veloso, Elza Soares, MPB-4, Geraldo Azevedo, Antonio Adolfo, Vinícius Cantuária, Elba Ramalho, and Zé Renato. His multifaceted career also extends to education, currently serving as a professor at the Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage in Rio de Janeiro, where he continues to influence new generations of artists and researchers.