Nando Reis

Nando Reis
Nando Reis in April 2007.
Background information
Birth name	José Fernando Gomes dos Reis
Born	January 12, 1963 (1963-01-12) (age 46)
Genres	Rock
Occupations	Singer, composer, songwriter, producer
Instruments	vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar
Years active	1984–present
Associated acts	Os Camarões Nando Reis e os Infernais Titãs
Website	nandoreis.terra.com.br/

Nando Reis (pronunciation /Nun.doo Heys/) (born on January 12, 1963) is a Brazilian musician and producer, best known as the former bassist of Brazilian rock band Titãs and for his successful solo career, with his own band called Nando Reis e os Infernais. He has also produced a few albums, including some related to Cássia Eller, who has made several significant partnerships with him, and Marisa Monte.

Childhood

Nando Reis was born on the early sixties, to Cecília Leonel and José Carlos Galvão Gomes dos Reis. He was given his prename "José" just like his brothers, José Carlos, the oldest of the children, and José Luiz (who was deaf), the younger. His two sisters also shared the same prenames: Maria Cecília, the older, and Maria Luiza, the youngest of the five.

His mother was an acoustic guitar teacher and his father, an engineer. José Carlos taught him a little bit of Rock 'n' Roll, showing him Rolling Stones's album Between the Buttons. Maria Cecília taught him to play the acoustic guitar and took him to a show of Gal Costa and Gilberto Gil.

He was given his first acoustic guitar by his grandmother, at the age of 7, and was taught his first chords by his sister. However, most of his skills were acquired alone, when he learned songs of Caetano Veloso all by himself.

Some friends of José Carlos played in a rock band. Once, he took Nando to a small performance at the garage of the bassist house. Impressed with the solos of the guitarist, he asked him to teach him, but he never made it. He also tried the drums, but also gave up. He decided then to play the bass guitar, as his attempts to play the electric guitar and the drums failed. Other artists, such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Alice Cooper kept joining his main influences. At the age of eleven, he had classes of classic guitar and harmony with Alexandre ("Maranhão"), a friend of José Carlos. His first compositions were all based on poems. Most of them were long, showing his appreciation for long songs.

In 1978, he entered Equipe School. There, he formed a band called "Os Camarões" with some friends, and managed to win a local music festival. When he met Paulo Miklos and Arnaldo Antunes, who took part of the festival, he began the first compositions with what would later become Titãs. When the high school was over, he waited three years to pass the Mathematics Vestibular. Even though Titãs where already planning their first show, the university occupied most of his time. Therefore, he decided to quit it.

Career with Titãs

In 1982, Titãs (at that time Titãs do Iê-Iê) made their first live presentation. They recorded several tapes and sent them to recording labels until they signed up with Warner Music label. In 1984, Titãs released their first album, Titãs, and Nando played the bass guitar in some tracks. Initially, he was only a Backing vocalist. In the later eighties, Titãs caught a plane to London, for their first international show. In June 19, 1989, his mother Cecília died of Cancer.

In the early nineties, he started producing his first albums, with artists like Marisa Monte and Cássia Eller. In 1995, he recorded his first solo album, 12 de Janeiro. In 2000, Titãs changed to Abril Music, and after recording As Dez Mais in Seattle, Nando released his second solo album, Para Quando o Arco-Íris Encontrar o Pote de Ouro, with some special participations like Cássia Eller, Rogério Fausino (from Jota Quest) and Peter Buck (from R.E.M.).

In June 13, 2001, Titãs' guitarist Marcelo Fromer died after being rammed by a motorcycle (see Marcelo Fromer's Death). In December 29, he lost another friend: Cássia Eller. In 2002, he released Infernal, his third solo work. Disturbed by the recent losses, divided between Titãs and his solo career and questioning the route of the band, he decides to leave Titãs in September 7, 2002.

Solo career

In 2003, he released his fourth album, A Letra A, and in early 2006, the sixth one, Sim e Não. As of January 2009, he is working on his seventh studio album, still untitled. Three tracks have been confirmed: "Conta", a tribute to his mother, "Só Pra So", another tribute for his daughter Sophia and "Pra Você", a duet with Ana Cañas.^[1] His cover version of "Eu Nasci Há Dez Mil Anos Atrás", a song by Raul Seixas, was featured in the Rede Globo telenovela Caminho das Índias soundtrack.

Personal life

Nando Reis was married twice. The first marriage was with Vânia Passos, a former classmate, and the wedding took place on February 14, 1985. His four children are Theodoro Passos Reis, born on January 16, 1986, Sophia Passos Reis, born on July 1, 1988, Sebastião, born on May 13, 1995, and Zoe Passos Reis, born on September 27, 1999. In September 2003, he finished his marriage with Vânia, and married Anna some months later. In November 2005, he finished his second marriage.

His daughter Sophia Reis is a VJ in MTV Brasil. She has also worked as actress and starred the film Meu Tio Matou um Cara.

Discography

With Titãs

Solo Albums (with Os Infernais)

• 12 de Janeiro (1995)
• Para Quando o Arco-Íris Encontrar o Pote de Ouro (2000)
• Infernal (2001)
• A Letra A (2003)
• MTV Ao Vivo - Nando Reis e Os Infernais (2005- 2x Gold, 2x Platinum^[2])
• Sim e Não (2006)
• Lual MTV - Nando Reis e Os Infernais (2007 - Gold, Platinum^[2])
• Drês (2009)

Albums Produced by him

• Ben Jor – Jorge Ben Jor (1989)
• Vange – Vange Leonel (1991)
• NOMAD – Nomad (1994)
• Maskavo Roots (1995)
• Com Você...Meu Mundo Ficaria Completo – Cássia Eller (1999)
• Acústico MTV Cássia Eller – Cássia Eller (2001)
• Dez de Dezembro – Tribute to Cássia Eller (2002)
• Squadra – Squadra (2002)

Guest appearances

References

• Nando Reis' official home page (Portuguese)

External links

• Official Website (Portuguese)
• Titãs Official Website (Portuguese)
• Official Fan Club (Portuguese)
• Nando Reis at the Internet Movie Database