Grammy® Award winning Brazilian recording artist Djavan (pronounced Dee-jah-van) was born Djavan Caetano Viana in 1949 in Maceió, a town in Brazil’s northeastern state of Alagoas. Djavan started playing music at the age of 16, first playing in a Beatles cover band. He began his professional career in 1973 when he moved to Rio de Janeiro to record songs for Brazilian soap operas. Djavan became a national name when his song ‘Fato Consumado’ (Consummated Facted) won second place at the Abertura Festival. The song became known all over Brazil and enabled him to release his first album. With his first three recordings on EMI, Djavan established himself as one of Brazil’s top musicians with his major hit songs ‘Meu Bem Querer’ and 'Seduzir'.In 1982, Djavan signed with Sony Music (then CBS Brazil) and released “Luz” (Light) in 1983. Luz was recorded in the United States with his band Sururu de Capote and guest musicians Stevie Wonder, Hubert Laws and Ernie Watts. The lavishly produced recording was immensely popular in Brazil, where Djavan was fast becoming a superstar. Just a year later, Djavan performed his first United States concert at the Avery Fischer Hall in New York City and quickly became an international sensation. Quincy Jones became one of the most enthusiastic supporters of his international career and signed him to Qwest Records.
Djavan’s international success has led his songs to be covered by artists such as Al Jarreau, Carmen McRae, The Manhattan Transfer, and top Brazilian Artists such as Gal Costa, Daniela Mercury, Caetano Veloso and others.
From the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, Djavan was incredibly prolific, releasing a new album almost every year. In 1999, Djavan recorded his first live album “Ao vivo”, a celebration of his artistic path of nearly thirty years. Recorded at the João Caetano Theater in Rio de Janeiro, “Ao vivo” would become his most popular album ever with over 1.2 million copies sold. The album featured old and new songs alike, including ‘Acelerou’ which would go on to win Best Brazilian Song at the inaugural Latin Grammy Awards. Djavan won Multishow awards for Best CD, Best Show, and Best Singer following the release of the album.
Now with more than 20 releases to his name, Djavan is touring in support of his album “Ária” which was released this past August 2010. On the new album, Djavan pays tribute to the artists that influenced him by performing a selection of cover songs rather than his own compositions. His live performance will continue this theme, including songs by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso and more.
Djavan will be at The Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason Theatre in Miami Beach, Florida on Friday October 29, 2010.
