Producer and music director Augusto César Graça Mello, known as Guto Graça Mello, died this Tuesday (5), at the age of 78, at Barra D'Or Hospital, where he had been hospitalized for more than a month after suffering a fall. According to family members, the cause of death was cardiorespiratory arrest.
Considered one of the leading names in music production in Brazil, Guto played a decisive role in building the sonic identity of television, especially in the soundtracks of TV Globo soap operas. Throughout his more than five-decade career, he produced over 500 albums and helped transform soundtracks into audience phenomena.
He leaves behind his wife, actress Sylvia Massari, as well as two daughters and two stepchildren. Information regarding the wake and funeral is not yet available.
Marco on TV
Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1948, Guto grew up in a family of artists and began his musical career in the 1960s. He even studied architecture at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), but abandoned his degree to dedicate himself to his musical career.
In television, she began in 1972 and, the following year, composed her first telenovela soundtrack. From then on, she participated in landmark productions such as Gabriela, Deadly sin, Saramandaia e Stupid Cupid, establishing itself as one of the main figures responsible for integrating music and drama in the country.
Among his most emblematic works is the creation of the opening theme for Fantástico, in addition to producing soundtracks for more than 30 films.
Som Livre
Simultaneously, he played a prominent role at Som Livre, where he helped structure the soundtrack market and boost the careers of artists such as Cazuza and Lulu Santos.
He also produced albums for big names in Brazilian music, such as Rita Lee, Roberto Carlos and Maria Bethânia, as well as Xuxa Meneghel's first album.
Even after leaving Globo and Som Livre in the late 1980s, Guto remained active in music, producing soundtracks, records, and jingles. In recent years, he followed television as an attentive viewer—especially soundtracks, an area he helped revolutionize in Brazil.
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