The mysterious Brazilian singer and guitarist, José Mauro, has passed away after a short illness at the age of 76.
Far Out Recordings, the record label that reissued his 1970 album Obnoxius, confirmed his passing in an Instagram post on Monday.
The record label paid tribute to his life in the Instagram caption by detailing his career, which included the release of two albums Obnoxius (1970) and A Viagem Das Horas (1976), and how he seemingly disappeared in the 1970s.
Referring to his disappearance in the 1970s, Far Out Recordings wrote that “the brevity of José Mauro’s career gave rise to widespread rumours that Mauro had been kidnapped by the military junta or that he had died in a traffic accident.”
“The reality was simpler: he had decided not to continue his recording career due to a lack of commercial success. Mauro would continue to live and work in Rio, writing music for theatre and working as a musical director at the Tablado Theatre School, while also giving guitar lessons,” the record label explained.
Brazilian singer José Mauro passed away after a short illness at the age of 76
However, years later Mauro had to stop “playing music” due to health complications.
Far Out learned that Mauro was still alive and “living a quiet life on the outskirts of Rio” after re-releasing his album, Obnoxius, in 2016.
Far Out Recordings thanked his nephew, David Butter, for helping them get in touch with him ahead of the 2021 reissue of A Viagam Das Horas.
Following his return to the spotlight, the record label said he was finally able to “set the record straight on rumours of his passing and reflect on his music, his life and his well-deserved new recognition.”
Over the weekend, his nephew, David, took to social media to honor Mauro’s legacy and 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 said he would miss the “daily exchange of views on music” between him and his uncle and the time they spent together.
“I love you, Uncle,” he concluded. “I’m sure the mass you sang today resonated in the highest place to welcome you.”
Mauro’s debut album is considered a cult classic in his native country.
In 2021, Mauro reflected on being left for dead during a rare interview.
“I was a student, a music student who dedicated himself to composing. It was that simple,” he explained to the BBC. The New York Times“Nature, that was my thing. Nature and beauty.”
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