Biography

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When talking about the northeastern culture and its many manifestations, it’s important to not only remember the abundance of traditions of its people. The northeastern culture goes far beyond the imagination of man: it is the translation of the expressions "creation, transformation and continuation". And this trilogy Pernambuco brings in every moment of its history. Even at the time of colonization, it was here that the strength and wealth of the Brazilian percussion were born from the sound of the indigenous and African Negroes drums, bringing about a musical wealth that when added to other instruments made into art the life of the land people.

Today, this trilogy is even stronger. With a more modern world, where technology has reached unusual stages, the percussion in Pernambuco has been receiving new form and new arrangements without losing the focus of its roots, coming to charm the whole world. With the music of Pernambuco, several names emerged. Charles Teony is the example of the diffusion of this new musical style, turning music into pure "masterpiece", into a true art from Pernambuco. Because of that comes his recognition as "The Best Singer of Maracatu in the World" by reviewers and producers in Paris, when, in 2000, he made a tour in Europe.
His artistic trajectory started very early. Since he was a child, Charles Teony distinguished himself in the June festivals in his city, Inajá, in the interior of Moxotó in Pernambuco, taking part in the local music groups. Traveling through the interior cities, singing songs of Luiz Gonzaga and Jackson do Pandeiro among others, he was building his name in the popular culture of the state. When he arrived in Recife in 1992, he brought along the full bag of rhythms and rituals of his native land, becoming a researcher of the Brazilian musical plurality.
For this enchantment he showers upon those who listens to him, the artist was invited to take part in several groups, like Grupo Cultural Maracatudo Camaleão, in Olinda, the city Charles chose to love. His love affair with Olinda is the theme of several lyrics of his songs. His compositions are mixed with the rhythms of Caboclinho, Maracatu, Ciranda, Coco, Frevo, and Samba, putting together into a "single ritual" every rhythm, making his musical style and the Maracatudo Camaleão take part in numerous festivals.

Since 1993 he has been taking part in the Carnival of Olinda, Recife and the interior of the state, completing 10 years of work dedicated to the most important Carnival poles in the world.
His voice and performance arrived in 1995 at the Maracatu Nação Pernambuco, which surrendered to his talent. With the well known Maracatu, he went through over 80 cities in international tours through Europe, charming listeners in countries like France, Italy, England, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Holland and Portugal.
Bringing into his bag the experience and recognition for taking part in the biggest music and dance festivals in the world, among them Montreal, Milan and Lyon, Charles Teony was also outstanding in concerts made during the World Cup in France and in the greatest Jazz festival, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, sharing the stage which represents the world's best of Latin and negro musical expressions: the Congo, and on the main stage of the festival, opening the concert for the singer Sting, from where he left considered by the reviewers and journalists as a revelation. It should also be pointed out his performance at the introduction in the market of the Fusca (New Beetle) in the year 2000, in Germany.
In Brazil, Charles Teony took part in festivals like Perc Pan, SESC Sio Paulo, Natal Cultural (Florianópolis, Curitiba, Porto Alegre and Brasília) Memorial of Latin America (homage to Gilberto Freyre), Cool Season, Garanhuns Winter Festival, Festival "Cool" Youth, Pernambuco in Concert, Circuito Cultural Bank of Brazil, Pitomba Feast in Jaboatão, Saint John in Olinda, Recife and Jaboatão dos Guararapes, among others, and performed with famous Brazilian Popular Music singers like Milton Nascimento, Alceu Valença and Lenine.

His compositions are present in CD's by Maracatu Nação Pernambuco and Maracatudo Camaleão and he took part in the CD's Recifrevo, Olinda Quero Cantar, Recife Rock Mangue 3 and Royal Rock. With the song Sementes da Nação (Seeds of a Nation) he was awarded 2nd place in the Recifrevo Festival.
Today, Charles Teony is sowing his innovative work worldwide. One of his songs, Olindeira, a homage to his eternal lover, the city of Olinda, "has already become a new hymn", as proclaimed by the newspaper Sem Censura. Olindeira is also a theme of one of his projects, one of the boldest of the artist, spreading up Olinda's hill and consolidated in the secular and traditional Amparo Street, site of the shows he shares with upcoming and experienced artists.

His work has been growing in the proportion of his recognition by his fans, artists, reviewers and the recording of a CD of his own, making sure it will represent an important contribution to the preservation and divulgation of the music from Pernambuco.
In April 2005 Teony and group participated in the 36th annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Their performance was well-received by the public, so much so that photos from the performance were published on the front page of the New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper.