Ugo Marotta

Ugo Marotta (September 23, 1942 in Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian musician, conductor, arranger, composer, keyboardist and vibraphonist. He took part at the Brazilian music movements Bossa Nova and Musicanossa. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he participated at the evening musical get-togethers at Nara Leão's place, the cradle of the musical style Bossa Nova. Other important names like Tom Jobim, Roberto Menescal, Carlos Lyra, Sérgio Mendes and Ronaldo Bôscoli were also active participants.

In 1963, together with Eumir Deodato, Sérgio Barrozo, João Palma and Roberto Menescal, he recorded his first LP, A Bossa Nova de Roberto Menescal e Seu Conjunto, playing vibraphone. Titles like "Desafinado", "Batida diferente", "Você e eu" and "Só danço samba" included on this LP, released by the label "Elenco", became some of the Bossa Nova hits. The following year, the band produced the new album: A Nova Bossa Nova de Roberto Menescal e Seu Conjunto, which also included hits like "Samba de verão", "Só tinha de ser com você" and "Bolinha de papel". Apart from playing the vibraphone, Marotta also arranged and composed some of the songs for this second LP.

During the Bossa Nova movement, he worked and recorded with several well-known Brazilian artists and bands (Maysa, Sylvia Telles, Carlos Lyra, Marcos Valle, Eumir Deodato), playing and arranging songs that became some of the Bossa Nova icons.

In 1968, he produced and directed the "Música Nossa" movement, along with Roberto Menescal, Mário Telles, Paulo Sérgio Valle and Tibério Gaspar.Marotta, whose first vibraphone was constructed by himself, came back to the musical scene on a new record with the harmonic player Maurício Einhorn. The album, a compilation of Oscar-winning songs, was released in 1975, by the extinct Philips label.Ugo Marotta also worked as arranger and composer of advertisements and movie soundtracks. His filmography includes As Aventuras de Sergio Mallandro, Os Fantasmas Trapalhões e Urubus e Papagaios.Nowadays he works as a music arranger and producer, being his latest records: Tributo a Tom Jobim, with Cláudia Telles, Tributo a Art Blakey and Quarenta, with Pascoal Meirelles