fbpx

I Francisco Mario International Prize for Popular Guitar - Europe Edition

After the national edition in 2018, and the Americas edition in 2023, one of the biggest Modern Acoustic Guitar prizes has a European edition.

Watch the Performance of the Awarded Musicians

Chico Mário

The younger brother of the sociologist Herbert de Souza (Betinho) and of the cartoonist Henfil, author of the first Brazilian book on independent record production, and promoter of the (possibly) first crowdfunding applied to phonographic production in Brazil. Eight authorial records and three books published in only 39 years of life. Learn about the life and work of one of the most prolific artists and guitarists from Brazil!

I WANT TO KNOW MORE

Chico Mário Cultural Institute

Our mission is to study, safeguard, and communicate Francisco Mário’s lifework, aiming to enhance the public’s experience with music and cultural education and to stimulate knowledge and artistic production. Click the button below and learn more about us

GET TO KNOW OUR WORK
THE INSTITUTE
The ICCM – Instituto Cultural Chico Mário (Chico Mário Cultural Institute) is a non-profit organization, created in 2017, with the goal of promoting the lifework of the composer and musician from Minas Gerais Francisco Mário, a precursor of independent music in Brazil, and also promote education and citizenship through arts and culture.

Our mission is to study, safeguard, and communicate Francisco Mário’s lifework, aiming to enhance the public’s experience with music and cultural education and to stimulate knowledge and artistic production. Want to know more about us? Click on the button below and learn more about our work.

Get to know the ICCM

Chico Mário

Born on August 22, 1948, in Belo Horizonte, Francisco Mário de Figueiredo Souza, aka Chico Mário, was one of the great forerunners of independent music in Brazil, at a time when record companies dominated the music market. He was also one of the precursors of crowdfunding in the country, releasing “Revolta dos Palhaços”, in 1980, with money from 200 people who bought the record even before it was produced. In 1986, he released the book “Como fazer um disco independente (How to make an independent record)”, considered to be the first of its kind in the country.

Younger brother of sociologist Betinho and cartoonist Henfil, he made history in Brazilian music. In all, there are 89 compositions, in eight independent discs. He also elaborated a music teaching method for children, using colors, and published children’s stories in Recreio magazine. His first album, “Terra”, released in 1979, received great praise from poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade. In 1987 he wrote his last works: “Dança do Mar”, “Suíte Brasil” and “Tempo”. Chico’s work and life are intertwined with the country’s own political, social, and cultural history.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER

Chico Mário Cultural Institute (ICCM)
Av. Cristóvão Colombo, 550, Room 306 – Belo Horizonte/MG
ZIP CODE: 30140-150

GET IN TOUCH