Biography of Raul Seixas: The journey of a Brazilian rock legend

Childhood and influences

Raul Seixas (Raul dos Santos Seixas) was born in Salvador, Bahia, on 28 June 1945, the son of Raul Varella Seixas and Maria Eugênia Seixas. He comes from the same region and generation as Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso and Gal Costa, among others, who defined the movement known as Tropicália.

Unlike these artists, Raul had greater exposure to rock and roll during his childhood, influenced by being a neighbour and friend of children from American families who worked for the American Consulate in Bahia.

Early career

Raul Seixas soon became an ardent fan of Elvis Presley, and at the age of 14 founded a Brazilian fan club for the singer, the Elvis Rock Club. However, it would be wrong to think that Raul rejected Brazilian culture by embracing rock and roll; although he hated bossa nova, he added elements of northeastern music, such as baião, xaxado and música brega, to his rock.

Musical education

Raul Seixas, a poor student who repeated the second year of secondary school several times, was very intelligent and a voracious reader. Tired of school, he decided to become a professional musician.

In 1962, in the midst of the bossa nova movement that was exploding in Brazil, Raul formed his first band, Os Relâmpagos do Rock, which later changed its name to The Panthers and finally to Raulzito e os Panteras.

The band recorded a single that was distributed to radio stations, with two songs, one of which was a cover of an Elvis Presley song.

They performed in clubs and sometimes on radio and television, and began to gain fame as the local expression of the Jovem Guarda movement, led by artists such as Roberto Carlos, Jerry Adriani, Erasmo Carlos and Wanderléa.

Key events in the company’s history

• Birth and early influences (1945): Raul was born in Salvador, Bahia, and was exposed to rock and roll from an early age, influenced by American friends.
• Founding of fan clubs and first bands (1960): At the age of 14 he founded the Elvis Rock Club and in 1962 he formed his first band, Os Relâmpagos do Rock.
• Participation in Jovem Guarda (1960-1965): Raul stood out as a local expression of the Jovem Guarda movement, performing in clubs and on radio and television programmes.
• Release of first LP (1968): Raul released his first album, entitled Raul Seixas, in 1968, although it did not achieve much national success.
• Signing with Philips Phonogram (1972): After participating in the International Song Festival with songs such as Let Me Sing Let Me Sing, Raul signed a contract with the record company, which boosted his career.
• Partnership with Paulo Coelho (1973): The collaboration with Paulo Coelho resulted in iconic songs and the creation of the Sociedade Alternativa (Alternative Society), an esoteric movement considered subversive by the military dictatorship.
• Release of the album Gita (1974): This album became one of his greatest successes, with impressive sales and inclusion on the soundtrack of the soap opera O Rebu.
• Exile in the United States (1975-1976): Raul and Paulo Coelho were exiled due to military repression in Brazil, where Raul had the opportunity to meet idols such as Elvis Presley and John Lennon.
• Return to Brazil and success in the 1970s (1974-1980): On his return to Brazil, Raul released several successful albums, including Krig-Ha Bandolo! and Há 10 Mil Anos Atrás.
• Health problems and continued career (1980): Despite health problems related to alcohol, Raul continued to release albums and perform concerts.
• Return to Success with Carimbador Maluco (1978): The song became a huge hit, especially after appearing on the children’s special Plunct Plactumm.
• Partnership with Marcelo Nova (1988): Raul began working with the lead singer of the band Camisa de Vênus, which revived his career.
• Death (1989): Raul Seixas died on 21 August 1989, but his musical legacy grew stronger after his death, with the release of posthumous albums and compilations.

Recognition and success

With the support of Jerry Adriani, Raul Seixas toured Brazil with the Panteras and recorded his first LP, self-titled, in 1968. Although it did not achieve national success, he returned to Salvador, possibly with the intention of giving up music.

He left Bahia again to pursue a career as a producer at CBS, where he produced and composed for artists such as Jerry Adriani, Renato e Seus Blue Caps and Sérgio Sampaio.

In 1972, Raul Seixas achieved the national recognition he had long sought, with two songs in the Festival Internacional da Canção (International Song Festival) organised by Rede Globo.

He participated with “Let Me Sing Let Me Sing” (which reached the finals) and “Eu Sou Eu Nicuri é o Diabo”. The positive reception earned him his first contract with the Philips Phonogram record company.

Partnerships and movements

In 1973, he released the LP Krig-Ha Bandolo!, which marked his first collaboration with Paulo Coelho. Together they formed the group Sociedade Alternativa, inspired by the teachings of Aleister Crowley.

Considered subversive by the military government, the movement led Raul, Paulo and their wives into exile in the United States, where Raul had the opportunity to meet idols such as Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Return and legacy

They returned to Brazil in 1974 amid the success of their second LP, Gita, which became one of their best-selling releases, went gold and was featured on the soundtrack of the soap opera O Rebu. This was followed by highly acclaimed LPs such as Novo Aeon and Há 10 Mil Anos Atrás.

In the early 1980s, Raul Seixas began to experience health problems due to excessive alcohol consumption, but continued to release albums and projects such as Mata Virgem and Abre-te Sésamo. He began to suffer from chronic hepatitis and had to take a break from contracts and shows.

After a long boycott by record companies, Raul Seixas resurfaced in 1978 with the song Carimbador Maluco, part of the Rede Globo children’s special Plunct Plact Zumm. Albums such as Metrô Linha 743 and A Pedra do Gênesis followed.

In 1988, Raul began composing and touring with fellow Bahian Marcelo Nova, lead singer of the band Camisa de Vênus.

Death and posthumous recognition

Raul Seixas died on 21 August 1989, just two days after the release of A Panela do Diabo, of a heart attack caused by alcohol-related problems. Interestingly, after his death, his talent was recognised more than ever, with a growing following and the posthumous release of previously unreleased recordings and compilations that became bestsellers.

Musical and thematic contribution

Throughout his career, Raul Seixas was a pioneer in mixing different musical styles with rock and roll, incorporating northeastern rhythms, Bob Dylan-style folk, cheesy music and even elements of umbanda. His lyrics covered a wide range of topics, from human emotions to systemic criticism, esotericism and agnosticism.

His message is often implicit in lyrics that may seem simple, but reveal profound poetry.

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