Famous Brazilian Guitarists

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 1 
Max Cavalera
(Lead Singer and Guitarist for Heavy Metal Bands: 'Soulfly', 'Cavalera Conspiracy' and 'Killer Be Killed')
Max Cavalera
3
Birthdate: August 4, 1969
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Massimiliano Antonio Cavalera is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is credited with co-founding the popular heavy metal band Sepultura where he was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer until 1996. Massimiliano Antonio Cavalera is currently associated with the American heavy metal bands, Killer Be Killed, Cavalera Conspiracy, and Soulfly. He co-founded Cavalera Conspiracy with his brother in 2007.

 2 
João Gilberto
(Brazilian Guitarist, Singer and Composer)
João Gilberto
2
Birthdate: June 10, 1931
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Juazeiro, State of Bahia, Brazil

João Gilberto was a Brazilian guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is best remembered as a pioneer of bossa nova and is sometimes referred to as the father of bossa nova. In 1965, his collaborative album Getz/Gilberto received three Grammy Awards including Album of the Year. In 2001, he was made an inductee of the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.

 3 
Antônio Carlos Jobim
(One of the Greatest Exponents of Brazilian Music and Primary Creator of 'Bossa Nova' Style)
Antônio Carlos Jobim
2
Birthdate: January 25, 1927
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Died: December 8, 1994

Antônio Carlos Jobim was a Brazilian pianist, guitarist, composer, arranger, singer, and songwriter. He is credited with popularizing a style of samba called bossa nova by merging it with jazz with the help of American artists in the 1960s. He played an important role in creating the bossa nova style and is referred to as the father of bossa nova.

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 4 
Caetano Veloso
(Brazilian Composer Known for His Role in the Brazilian Artistic Movement of the Late 1960s)
Caetano Veloso
2
Birthdate: August 7, 1942
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil

Caetano Veloso is a Brazilian singer, guitarist, composer, political activist, and writer. Since his involvement in a musical movement called Tropicalismo in the 1960s, Veloso has remained a creative influence in Brazil. One of the best-selling performing artists of his generation, Caetano Veloso has received two Grammy Awards and nine Latin Grammy Awards so far in his illustrious career.

 5 
Kiko Loureiro
(Musician, Guitarist)
Kiko Loureiro
2
Birthdate: June 16, 1972
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro

Kiko Loureiro is a Brazilian guitarist best known for his association with several heavy metal bands such as Megadeth and Angra. In 2017, he and his Megadeth band members received the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for their song Dystopia. Kiko Loureiro is renowned for his guitaring techniques such as two handed tapping, alternate picking, and sweep picking.

 6 
Heitor Villa-Lobos
(One of the Foremost Latin American Composers of the 20th Century)
Heitor Villa-Lobos
2
Birthdate: March 5, 1887
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Died: November 17, 1959

Heitor Villa-Lobos was a Brazilian composer, conductor, cellist, and classical guitarist. He is widely believed to be "the single most significant creative figure in 20th-century Brazilian art music." He was a prolific composer with over 2,000 orchestral, chamber, instrumental, and vocal works to his name. His music continues to be popular today, even six decades after his death. 

 7 
Rodrigo Amarante
(Singer, Guitarist)
Rodrigo Amarante
2
Birthdate: September 6, 1976
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro

Rodrigo Amarante is a Brazilian multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, composer, and arranger. He is best known for his association with famous bands like Little Joy, Orquestra Imperial, and Los Hermanos. Rodrigo Amarante achieved international recognition in 2015 when he wrote and performed the theme song for the popular American crime drama TV series Narcos.

 8 
Andreas Kisser
(Brazilian Musician Best Known as the Lead Guitarist for the Metal Band 'Sepultura')
Andreas Kisser
1
Birthdate: August 24, 1968
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: São Bernardo do Campo, State of São Paulo, Brazil

Andreas Kisser is a Brazilian musician, producer, and songwriter. He is best known for his association with the famous metal band Sepultura where he performs as the lead guitarist. A multi-talented individual, Andreas Kisser has also been hosting a radio show titled Pegadas de Andreas Kisser since January 2013. 

 9 
Milton Nascimento
(Singer, Composer, Guitarist)
Milton Nascimento
1
Birthdate: October 26, 1942
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro

Milton Nascimento is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Over the course of his illustrious career, Nascimento has received five Grammy Awards. In 1997, he won the award under the Best World Music Album category.

 10 
Chico Buarque
(Known for His Music, Which Often Includes Social, Economic, and Cultural Reflections on Brazil)
Chico Buarque
1
Birthdate: June 19, 1944
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Chico Buarque is a Brazilian singer, guitarist, songwriter, composer, poet, playwright, and writer. He is best known for creating music that includes economic, cultural, and social reflections on Brazil. In 2010, he received the São Paulo Prize for Literature. In 2019, Chico Buarque was honored with the prestigious Camões Prize. 

 11 
Joe Penna
(Film maker, Animator, Musician, Guitarist)
Joe Penna
1
Birthdate: May 29, 1987
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: São Paulo

Joe Penna is a Brazilian filmmaker and musician best known for running his successful YouTube channel MysteryGuitarMan. Penna has also achieved success as an ad-filmmaker. In 2009, his collaboration with Rhett and Link for an ad titled T-Shirt War attracted international attention. Joe Penna is also known for his short films such as Guitar: Impossible and Turning Point.

 12 
Mateus Asato
(Guitarist)
Mateus Asato
1
Birthdate: December 29, 1993
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Campo Grande, Brazil

Mateus Asato is a Brazilian guitarist who achieved popularity after showcasing his guitar-playing skills on Instagram. Since then, he has toured as a guitarist alongside famous artistes like Jessie J and Tori Kelly. Mateus Asato, who has developed his own fingerstyle picking method, is widely regarded as one of the best guitarists of his generation.

 13 
Tim Maia
(Singer, Composer, Jazz musician, Guitarist)
Tim Maia
1
Birthdate: September 28, 1942
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro
Died: March 15, 1998

Tim Maia was a Brazilian musician and songwriter best remembered for his ironic, iconoclastic, humorous, and outspoken musical style. Counted among the greatest icons in Brazilian music, Tim Maia is credited with pioneering sambalanço and introducing soul music in the Brazilian musical scene.  

 14 
Heitor Pereira
(Composer, Guitarist, Film score composer)
Heitor Pereira
1
Birthdate: November 29, 1960
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul

Heitor Pereira is a Brazilian composer best known for composing music for the famous Despicable Me franchise. He has also worked with world-renowned musicians like Elton John, Jack Johnson, and Rod Stewart. In 2006, Heitor Pereira received a Grammy Award under the Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist category.

 15 
Paulo Jr.
(Brazilian Musician Best Known as the Bassist for Heavy Metal Band 'Sepultura')
Paulo Jr.
1
Birthdate: April 30, 1969
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Paulo Jr. is a Brazilian musician who performs as the bassist in the popular heavy metal band Sepultura. Paulo Jr. is also renowned for his charity work. Since 1999, he has been organizing a series of football charity games every year.

 16 
Luiz Bonfá
(Brazilian Guitarist and Composer Known for His Music Composition for the Film 'Black Orpheus')
Luiz Bonfá
1
Birthdate: October 17, 1922
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Died: January 12, 2001

Luiz Bonfá was a Brazilian composer and guitarist best remembered for his work in the 1959 romantic tragedy film Black Orpheus. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest exponents of the emotionally charged samba-canção style that preceded the arrival of João Gilberto's subdued bossa nova style. Bonfá also worked with American musicians like Quincy Jones and Frank Sinatra.

 17 
Baden Powell
(Brazilian Jazz Guitarist and Composer)
Baden Powell
1
Birthdate: August 6, 1937
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Varre-Sai, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Died: September 26, 2000

Baden Powell was a Brazilian guitarist and composer best remembered for his versatality. He often combined classical techniques with swing and harmony and performed in many styles, including Latin jazz, Brazilian jazz, bossa nova, and samba. Apart from performing on stage and composing pieces for guitar, Baden Powell also collaborated with other popular musicians like American flautist Herbie Mann.

 18 
Marisa Monte
(Brazilian Singer, Composer and Instrumentalist)
Marisa Monte
1
Birthdate: July 1, 1967
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Marisa Monte is a Brazilian singer, instrumentalist, composer, and producer. An exponent of samba and Brazilian popular music, Monte has sold millions of albums worldwide and has received numerous international awards. Marisa Monte is a recipient of several Brazilian MTV Video Music Awards and Latin Grammys. She was ranked by Rolling Stone Brasil as the second-greatest singer of all time.

 19 
Bill Hudson
(Musician)
Bill Hudson
1
Birthdate: January 13, 1983
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: São Paulo

Bill Hudson is a musician cum actor. Along with his two younger brothers, Brett and Mark, he formed the band The Hudson Brothers in 1965. He was a vocalist in the band. He eventually ventured into acting as well and appeared in supporting roles in the films Zero to Sixty and Hysterical. He was once married to actress Goldie Hawn. 

 20 
Laurindo Almeida
(Brazilian Guitarist and Composer)
Laurindo Almeida
0
Birthdate: September 2, 1917
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Miracatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil
Died: July 26, 1995

Laurindo Almeida was a Brazilian guitarist and composer. He was well versed in classical, jazz, and Latin music. Along with Bud Shank, he is considered one of the pioneers in the creation of bossa nova. In a career spanning over five decades, he made over a hundred recordings. He received Grammy Awards for both classical and jazz performances. 

 21 
Sivuca
(Accordionist)
Sivuca
0
Birthdate: May 26, 1930
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Itabaiana, Paraíba, Brazil
Died: December 14, 2006

Sivuca was a Brazilian accordionist, guitarist, and singer. He began his career as a teenager and performed with musician and future politician Humberto Teixeira. He started working with Scandinavian jazz musicians in the 1980s and became known for designing his own unconventional musical instruments. Besides Brazil, he has also worked and lived in Paris, Lisbon, and New York City.  

 22 
Laura Rizzotto
(Singer-songwriter)
Laura Rizzotto
0
Birthdate: July 18, 1994
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Laura Rizzotto is a Latvian-Brazilian singer-songwriter, pianist, and guitarist. She started studying both classical music and ballet as a young girl. After competing as a ballet dancer for a few years, she decided to focus on music. She has a master's degree in music from Columbia University and is an official voting member of the Recording Academy. 

 23 
Parrerito
(Singer)
Parrerito
0
Birthdate: June 20, 1953
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: São Fidélis
Died: September 13, 2020

Parrerito was a Brazilian singer, composer, and guitarist. He achieved national prominence after becoming a part of the famous musical act, Trio Parada Dura. He was part of the group from 1988 to 2006, during which he helped popularize the ensemble. Parrerito died in 2020 after testing positive for COVID-19.