José Mauro dead at 76: Brazilian singer who achieved cult status after going missing in the ’70s has now passed away
Mysterious Brazilian singer and guitarist, José Mauro, has died following a short illness at age 76.
Far Out Recordings, the record label that reissued his 1970 album Obnoxius, confirmed his passing in an Instagram post, uploaded on Monday.
The record label paid tribute to his life in the Instagram caption as they detailed his career, which included the release of two records Obnoxius (1970) and A Viagem Das Horas (1976), and how he seemingly vanished in the 1970s.
While referring to his disappearance, Far Out Recordings wrote that ‘the briefness of José Mauro’s career led to widespread rumours that Mauro had been abducted by the military junta, or that he’d died in a road accident.’
‘The reality was more straightforward: he’d decided not to continue in his career as a recording artist due to a lack of commercial success. Mauro would continue living and working in Rio, writing music for theatre and working as a musical director at the Tablado Theatre School, while also teaching guitar,’ the record label explained.
Brazilian singer, José Mauro, has died following a short illness at age 76
Years, later, however, Mauro had to stop ‘playing music’ due to health complications.
Far Out learned that Mauro was still alive and simply ‘living a quiet life on the outskirts of Rio.’
Far Out Recordings credited his nephew, David Butter, for helping them get in touch with him after rereleasing his album, Obnoxius, in 2016.
After learning he was still alive, they teamed up on the re-issue of A Viagam Das Horas in 2021
Following his return to the spotlight, the record label noted that he was finally able to ‘set the record straight about the rumours of his passing and reflect on his music, his life and his much deserved new found acclaim.’
Over the weekend, his nephew, David, took to social media to honor Mauro’s legacy as well as inform his uncle’s fans that he died of pneumonia.
In a post translated from Portuguese to English, David wrote that his uncle passed away on Friday.
He noted that he would miss his and his uncle’s ‘daily exchange of impressions about music’ and their time together.
‘I love you uncle,’ he concluded. ‘I am sure the mass you sang resonated today in the highest place to receive you.’
Mauro’s debut album is considered a cult classic in his native country.
In 2021, Mauro reflected on being presumed dead during a rare interview.
‘I was a student, a music student who devoted himself to composing. Simple as that,’ he explained to the New York Times. ‘Nature, that was my thing. Nature and beauty.’
Mauro added that he had no idea what started the rumors about his death.
‘I cannot fathom how it came about,’ he said. ‘I sort of disappeared due to the vast gap between recording and releasing the albums. But there was no reason to think that I had died!’
Joe Davis, Far Out’s founder, wrote in an email to the outlet that he ‘genuinely believed Mauro was gone’ and recalled being told Mauro’s old producer, Roberto Quartin, of a ‘possible catastrophe involving the singer.’
‘He said he was told that maybe he had a serious motorcycle accident and passed away but wasn’t 100-percent sure,’ Davis wrote in the email. ‘Because no one knew where Mauro was — not even the musicians he recorded with — it led us to believe that was probably the case.’
Author and journalist, Maria Bahiana maintained that she always knew that he wasn’t killed in a motorcycle accident because ‘he hated speed.’
Far Out Recordings, the record label that reissued his 1970 album Obnoxius, confirmed his passing in an Instagram post, uploaded on Monday
‘He would drive his father’s car at 20 kilometers per hour,’ she pointed out.
As for how he spent his time out of the spotlight, the New York Times confirmed he was living on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, reading and talking to friends.
He began playing guitar and piano at ProArte, a prestigious music school in Rio.
‘Music became an ally, and I was pleased about that,’ he told the NY Times. ‘There was no bigger joy to me than taking the guitar and composing by intuition. Music came to me as a gift, as a natural gift.’
Growing up, he listened to American singers Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Billie Holiday and more.
‘My style is very personal,’ he told the outlet. ‘I’ve always felt like a natural-born musician, carrying songs inside me. I was willing to give my best to the world without relinquishing my composing style.’
Mauro also revealed when he’s in a ‘creative mood he would turn on his ‘tape recorder’ and ‘started composing.’