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Tom Capone Biography

tom-capone
  • Born: in Brasilia, Brazil
  • Years Active: 1980s-2000s
  • Member of: Moondog
  • Genre: Latin

Tom Capone was among the most commercially and critically acclaimed producers in contemporary Brazilian music. Born Luís Antônio Ferreira Gonçalves, he first earned notice in 1988 playing guitar with the Brazilian rock group Peter Perfeito, exiting the lineup within a year to settle in Rio de Janeiro and establish his own recording studio. In the decade to follow, Capone helmed sessions for artists including Gilberto Gil, Milton Nascimento, Marisa Monte, and Carlinhos Brown, and in 1998, he was offered the position of director of A&R for Warner Music Brazil, accepting on the condition that he be allowed to continue producing sessions for rival labels. Capone's most successful production was 2003's Maria Rita, the self-titled debut album from the daughter of Brazilian music legend Elis Regina; the record sold close to 700,000 copies worldwide. Rita's smash "A Festa" and his work with the band Skank combined to earn Capone five Latin Grammy nominations in 2004, the most ever for a Brazilian; sadly, just hours after leaving the awards telecast empty-handed, he was killed in a motorcycle crash in Los Angeles at the age of 38. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

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