Cazuza

In 1980, he returned to Rio. He dedicated himself to photographing, acted in theater, and went to Circo Voador. There Léo Jaime, a singer-songwriter, saw him and introduced him to a band looking for a vocalist. He joined Barão Vermelho, a band that mixed rock with new wave. With them, he released songs like «Bete Balanço» and «Todo Amor Que Houver Nessa Vida». They released three albums and gained popularity. In 1985, he participated in the first Rock in Rio. Caetano Veloso called him the great poet of his generation, which motivated him to leave the band for more freedom.

As a solo artist, Cazuza expanded. His music became more varied, but retained the touch of Barão Vermelho. Songs like «Blues da Piedade» or «Balada da Esplanada», based on a poem by Oswald de Andrade, defined him. He achieved a balance between pop and deep lyrics. He was one of the best rock Brazilian songwriters, along with Renato Russo. He covered artists like Cartola, Raul Seixas and Caetano Veloso. Songs like «Exagerado» or «O Tempo Não Pára» made him famous.

In 1989, he announced that he was HIV positive. He released his last album, Burguesia, a double disc that reflected his health condition and his talent. Although he was bisexual, he was not active in the LGBT movement. His honesty about HIV helped change the perception of the disease. He died in 1990, but his legacy lives on.