Born Agenor de Miranda Araújo Neto, this singer is one of Brazil’s most beloved, and was known as Cazuza, and also as O Poeta (the poet). He was the son of an upper class Carioca family, and grew up during the 60s and 70s. He joined a rock band called Barão Vermelho, and sang and composed music for them in the early 1980s.

Cazuza went on to have a successful solo career, but is also known for his collaboration with artist Roberto Frejat, since their work is considered some of the best Brazilian rock music of all time. Some of Cazuza’s most famous songs include “Exagerado,” “O Tempo Não Para,” and “Brasil.” During his brief career, he wrote and recorded 126 songs.

Cazuza was known for being a rebel, a bisexual party boy who used drugs. In 1987, he found out that he had HIV, and went to the US for treatment. He was one of the first Brazilian celebrities to publicly reveal his HIV- positive status when AIDS was a relatively new concept. Since he most likely contracted the virus in 1985, he quickly grew ill, and died at age 32 in 1990.

Cazuza’s parents founded the Viva Cazuza Foundation after his death, which provides support, health care and education for HIV-positive children in Brazil. A movie was made about his life in 2004, starring Daniel de Oliveira.

To read more about Cazuza’s life and to listen to his music, click here.