SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazilian songwriter and actor Seu Jorge survived years of homelessness. Now he hobnobs in Hollywood and sells his samba-infused pop globally.
He has just completed a successful North American tour, including a show in June at the Bonnaroo alternative music festival in Tennessee, to promote his album "Cru." Next he plays across Europe with dates from Scotland to France.
His album of bossa-tinged David Bowie covers, culled from the movie "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou," has captivated critics.
While foreign audiences are more than familiar with the old guard of Brazilian artists, Seu Jorge, 36, is winning the most recognition abroad of the newcomers.
Seu Jorge, or Mr. George, plays what he calls universal music.
"It's music with no territory, symbol or passport. Music that doesn't need English to communicate," he told Reuters in an interview at his studio in a garage in Sao Paulo.
It was his acting career that first brought him fame abroad. He played Knockout Ned in the 2002 Oscar-nominated film "City of God" -- a stark look at life in the violent Rio de Janeiro slums where he grew up.
"Everything happened because of the film. 'City of God' was a milestone. It was a success all over the world and opened more professional space for me," Seu Jorge said.
More recently, he played a musician in Wes Anderson's film "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou," with Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe and Cate Blanchett. "That gave me credibility, because it was myself and an acoustic guitar."
After acclaim for the soundtrack, which featured a Brazilian take on a few David Bowie songs, he released a recording of the full sessions with covers of such Bowie hits as "Starman," "Ziggy Stardust" and "Suffragette City" set to Portuguese lyrics. Critics loved it and British music magazine Uncut called it "bizarrely beautiful."
TOUGH TIMES
The poverty-stricken world of Rio de Janeiro's slums depicted in "City of God" was one Seu Jorge knew well.
Born Jorge Mario da Silva, he spent most of his childhood on Gogo da Ema, a poor Rio neighborhood. The eldest of four sons, he fixed tires as a boy to help support his family.
One tragic episode turned his life upside down: A brother died in a shootout. The family split up and he went to live on the streets. "I didn't even have an ID card," he said.
After a couple of aimless years, he came across a theater company at the University of Rio de Janeiro State that was holding auditions for a play. There, he found a new home, learned tricks and developed a stage presence.
He teamed up with theater partner Gabriel Moura to form Farofa Carioca, a band combining music and performance, but decided to go solo after appearing on local TV shows.
Alone, he could explore more fully what he had to say and how he wanted to do it.
"I don't have a style. The sound is what flows and the flow is me. I don't play Charles Chaplin when I'm feeling bad. That's the kind of honest relationship I have with my audience," Seu Jorge said as he lighted another cigarette.
He released his first solo record in 2001, "Samba Esporte Fino," or "Refined Sport Samba," which received good reviews and was voted Brazil's Album of the Year.
Then came "Cru' (2004), "Life Aquatic" (2005) and the latest and best selling "Ana & Jorge" (2006), a live album with pop singer Ana Carolina. It was only released in Brazil and featured a version of Damien Rice's "The Blower's Daughter."
MUSIC FOR AMERICA
Seu Jorge's music mixes synthesizers with typical Brazilian instruments that intrigue those unfamiliar with their sound.
"People outside Brazil are tired of guitars, drums and keyboards. They want rabeca, cavaquinho and cu'ca," Seu Jorge said.
He tries to balance his singing and acting career. "Casa de Areia," his latest film also starring Oscar-nominee Fernanda Montenegro, is being shown in U.S. cinemas and Seu Jorge is recording material for a 4th studio album.
Although he is unsure how it will sound, one thing is certain: "It's an album for the United States," he said.
"It is as if I'm looking at Brazil from inside the U.S. I want to play very joyful music, something they aren't used to listening to and that only samba has it."
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