Who is Toquinho?

Toquinho (Antonio Pecci Filho) is a renowned Brazilian musician, composer and singer who has been performing for more than 50 years. He is considered one of the most important figures of contemporary Brazilian music.

Early Life

Toquinho was born in São Paulo in 1940. His father, Antonio Pecci, was an Italian immigrant who worked as a tailor and his mother, Maria Pecci, was from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil. As a child, Toquinho was exposed to a variety of musical styles, including samba, choro and bossa nova. He started playing the guitar at the age of 10 and soon developed a deep passion for music.

Career

Toquinho's career took off in the late 1950s when he started playing with some of the most famous names in Brazilian music such as Vinicius de Moraes and Chico Buarque. In 1964, he released his first album, which featured his own compositions as well as those of his renowned collaborators. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Toquinho released numerous albums that explored different styles of Brazilian music such as MPB (Música Popular Brasileira), jazz, bossa nova and samba. He also collaborated with renowned artists such as Maria Bethânia and Gilberto Gil.

Legacy

Toquinho has been widely acclaimed for his contributions to Brazilian music. He has received numerous awards throughout his career, including two Latin Grammys for Best MPB Album (in 2004 and 2006). He is also one of the most sampled musicians in Brazil; his songs have been used in countless movies, TV shows and advertisements.

Personal Life

Toquinho is married to French singer/songwriter Françoise Hardy since 1998. The couple lives in São Paulo, Brazil.