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Raul Santos Seixas (IPA-pt ?a'u? 'sej??s; June 28, 1945 – August 21, 1989),[allmusic Biography] was a Brazilian rock composer, singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in Salvador (Bahia), Brazil, and died of a heart attack in São Paulo. Every year at Seixas' birthday, legions of fans, including hundreds of impersonators (many even changing their last name to Seixas as a sign of idolatry) throw a parade as an homage to him in downtown São Paulo.
Biography As a child living near the United States consulate in Salvador, capital of the state of Bahia he became fluent in the English language, and was introduced to early rock and roll records of artists like Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley through his contacts with American diplomats' children around 1956. Elvis's music in particular was influential in young Raul's decision to become a musician.
At the age of twelve Seixas formed his first group, The Panthers, later changing their name to the Portuguese language Raulzito e os Panteras ("Little Raul and The Panthers"). They appeared on TV Salvador doing covers of Lewis, Little Richard and Elvis, a style of music which was at the time called "cowboy music" in Brazil. They were also the first group in the state of Bahia to play Beatles covers and grow their hair long, as early as 1964.
In the mid-1960s, Os Panteras, already well known as the best rock group in the regionCitation needed
Following the promises of fame and fortune, the band was transplanted to Rio de Janeiro in 1967
. In the following year they released their first and only album on the Odeon label (later EMI-Odeon), which included a Portuguese language version of the Beatles song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds among many original numbers. Without any publicity, the record sunk and the band disbanded.
After his former bandmates moved back to Salvador, Raul made a living as an English teacher before being hired by CBS, still in 1968, as creative director and record producer. In 1971, tired of writing and producing records by bland, commercial artists, he took advantage of a label director's vacations and produced Sociedade da Grã-Ordem Kavernista Apresenta Sessão das Dez, an avant-garde album featuring himself, singer Sergio Sampaio, samba artist Miriam Batucada and Edy Star. The record's mix of Tropicalia, rock and roll and anarchic surrealistic experiments launched Raul Seixas as an icon of Brazilian counterculture.
In the 1970s, Seixas became popular in urban centers such as Rio and São Paulo. Music broadcast on TV and radio was satirical, sarcastic with esoteric themes.
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