Marcilio de Almeida

Marcilio de Almeida came from the countryside of Minas Gerais, where he started playing viola as a boy. His music draws from traditional sertanejo, a Brazilian style rooted in rural life. In the 1990s, his work began reaching wider audiences, and he released his debut album 'Viola de Dor' in 1995.

That album included 'Ao Lembrar Faz Doer,' a song that became closely associated with him. Its straightforward title translates to 'Remembering Causes Pain,' which gives a sense of his lyrical approach. Other songs like 'Nada Mais Importa' and 'Cansei de Você' continue in that vein of direct, heartache-themed writing.

His career wasn't without difficulties. He had public struggles with alcohol and depression, and in 2004 he was arrested for drug possession. These personal challenges sometimes fed into the raw quality of his music, though they also led to periods away from recording and performing.