Tim Maia (1942-1998) was a Brazilian singer, songwriter, and producer from Rio de Janeiro who brought American soul and funk into Brazilian music, fusing them with samba and MPB. The cult Racional albums (1975-76) are the collector grails; the 1970 self-titled is the classic way in. Dig into Tim Maia vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Tim Maia, born Sebastiao Rodrigues Maia in Rio de Janeiro in 1942, was a Brazilian singer, songwriter, and producer who died in 1998. After spending formative years in the United States, he returned to Brazil and became the pioneering force in Brazilian soul and funk, incorporating American R&B into Brazilian popular music. His turbulent, charismatic personal life became legendary, as did his idiosyncratic spiritual phase that produced the cult Racional albums.
Tim Maia fused American soul, funk, and R&B with samba, MPB, and Brazilian rhythms, powered by his rich, commanding voice. His music ranges from romantic ballads to deep funk grooves, and his Racional Cultura-era recordings are especially prized. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures in Brazilian popular music.
Tim Maia's 1970s catalog, especially the Racional albums, is highly collectible, with original Brazilian pressings commanding strong interest and international reissue series (including compilations of his funk and soul material) bringing his work to wider audiences. Colored and reissue vinyl variants circulate among soul and Brazilian-music collectors.
Listeners new to Tim Maia often start with his 1970 self-titled album or the World Psychedelic Classics compilation of his Racional-era work. For related listening, see and .
