Vinicius de Moraes

Vinícius de Moraes was a Brazilian poet and composer, one of the most important and influential artists of the 20th century in Brazil. He was born in Rio de Janeiro, in 1913, and studied law and literature at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He began his literary career in 1933, publishing his first poetry book, Caminho para a distância. He was one of the founders and leaders of the modernist movement in Brazilian poetry, which sought to break with the traditional forms and themes of the past. He wrote several poetry books, such as Forma e exegese, Novos poemas, Antologia poética, and Para viver um grande amor. He also wrote plays, essays, short stories, and children's books. He was also a diplomat and served in several countries, such as France, Uruguay, Italy, and Portugal. He was a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters and received several awards and honors for his literary work. He was also a prolific composer and musician, and collaborated with many famous artists, such as Antônio Carlos Jobim, João Gilberto, Chico Buarque, Baden Powell, and Toquinho. He was one of the creators of the bossa nova genre, which combined samba rhythms with jazz harmonies and poetic lyrics. He wrote many songs that became classics of Brazilian music, such as "Garota de Ipanema", "Chega de saudade", "Eu sei que vou te amar", and "A felicidade". He also wrote the lyrics of the Brazilian Flag Anthem, which was composed by Francisco Braga. He died in 1980, at the age of 66, in Rio de Janeiro. He is regarded as one of the greatest masters of Brazilian poetry and music, and one of the main representatives of Brazilian culture.