Biography
Marco Antonio de Carvalho is a Brazilian performing musician, guitarist, singer, and composer. Born in the São Cristóvão neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he started out playing percussion with friends on the streets of his hometown. The guitar was ever-present in those days, so Marco developed his musical ability by “street learning” - playing by ear on the street, listening to friends and others with more experience. A favorite way to play was using the guitar as a percussion instrument and playing samba by tapping on tables and doors with his brother and friends. Marco fondly remembers warm days playing with friends under a tree on a sidewalk or at the beach where food and music merged.
Music was all around when Marco was a teenager on his family's home stereo and in the homes of relatives and friends, as well as live music at numerous street parties in Brazil throughout the year. At those parties, many people play instruments, sing, and dance. His experiences at Carnaval parades, matinee clubs, samba events, Tambores, and ritual rooms of Candomblé - the musical culture of his country - greatly influenced his musical development and style.
At 17, he began to develop his personal sound, tone, and technique by playing professionally in nightclubs around Rio and playing Música Popular Brasileira while traveling across Brazil. Formally, he was trained at the Conservatório Brasileiro de Música and Instituto Villa-Lobos in Rio, where he studied musical theory, and harmony, and specifically, guitar performance with Sergio Vale and Juarez Carvalho (no relation). Marco studied harmony and composition privately with pianist Luiz Eça, and guitar with guitarist Helio Delmiro. He studied composition with Ronaldo Miranda at the Pro-Arte School of Music. Marco has performed with many musicians and accompanied crooners and singers across Brazil and the United States.
Eventually, he had the opportunity to play and tour with Bandolim player Paulo Sá. First in Rio and then on the East Coast of the United States. When an opportunity arose to play the West Coast, Marco took it, eventually establishing his residence in Seattle, Washington. There, he continues to expand his life's repertoire performing an extensive catalog of original compositions and songs from Rio de Janeiro, recording with fabulous musicians, leading workshops, and teaching lessons on guitar.
