Despedida de um Ícone: Morre aos 86 anos Caçulinha, maestro e compositor do 'Domingão do Faustão'
In the golden years of Brazilian music, the artist had the privilege of accompanying great names such as Elis Regina, Jair Rodrigues, Luiz Gonzaga and Roberto Carlos.
Before her long partnership with Faustão, Caçulinha participated in several other TV programs - Photo Reproduction/ Tiago Queiroz / Estadão Conteúdo
Musician and composer Caçulinha passed away at the age of 86 in the early hours of this Monday (5), according to his family. He had been hospitalized for around ten days at Hospital Sancta Maggiore, in São Paulo, where he was recovering from a heart attack. According to family members, the wake will be held at the São Paulo Cemetery Chapel, in Pinheiros, in the West Zone of São Paulo, from 11am to 3pm. The burial will take place at 4pm at the same location. Recognized for his work on the program "Domingão do Faustão", Caçulinha left an invaluable legacy and an indelible mark on the country's popular culture.
A Maestro of Countless Talents
Rubens Antônio da Silva, known as Caçulinha, was born in Piracicaba, in the interior of São Paulo, and from a young age demonstrated an extraordinary talent for music. At the age of six, he was already playing the accordion, and his skill with several musical instruments made him stand out as a prodigy. Rubens started playing his first chords professionally at the age of 8. After the dissolution of the duo formed by his father and uncle, he adopted the nickname by which his uncle was known and began to perform alongside his father, forming the duo Mariano and Caçulinha.
His first solo album was released in 1959. Throughout his career, he recorded 31 albums, ranging from country music to bossa nova. Among his compositions and melodies, highlights include "Sabido", by Luiz Gonzaga, "Arrasta-pé na Tuia", in partnership with Lourival dos Santos, and the waltz "Primeiro Amor". He was awarded the now-defunct Roquette Pinto Prize, which annually recognized São Paulo's most notable radio artists. In 2006, Caçulinha released the CD "Caçulinha na Bossa Nova", in which she re-recorded great hits of this genre, including classics such as “Garota de Ipanema”, “Estate”, “Olhar de Mulher”, “Velas Içadas”, “Sem Você” and “The Boat”.
In 1965, he was hired exclusively by TV Record to participate in the program Fino Trato, presented by Elis Regina and Jair Rodrigues. Afterwards, he continued his career on television, working on musical specials on TV Record and participating in other attractions such as Esta Noite Se Improvisa and Bossaudade. In the 1980s, he presented the program Caçulinha Entre Amigos on Bandeirantes and also participated in the program Perdidos na Noite on the same channel.
In 2021, he released the album "Caçulinha - 60 Anos de Música" through Kuarup, available on streaming platforms and also in a physical version. The album was recorded live at Teatro Itália, in São Paulo, in 2019, and featured artists such as Sérgio Reis, Agnaldo Rayol, Claudette Soares, Wanderléa, Daniel, Thobias da Vai-Vai, Zé Luiz Mazziotti, Mônica Salmaso , Simoninha and Ayrton Montarroyos. Throughout his career, Caçulinha worked with big names in Brazilian music, such as Elis Regina, Roberto Carlos, Jair Rodrigues, Luiz Gonzaga, Erasmo Carlos, João Gilberto, Simonal, Dominguinhos, Gonzaguinha, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Maria Bethânia and Milton Nascimento and Chico Buarque.
His versatility and competence led him to become one of the most respected and beloved musicians in Brazil. Before beginning her long partnership with Faustão, Caçulinha participated in several TV programs, including "Essa Noite se Improvisa", "Raul Gil", "Ratinho", "Os Trapalhões", "Balão Mágico", "Clube do Bolinha", "Lunch with the Stars", "Lost in the Night" and "A Praça é Nossa", among others.
The Golden Age in "Domingão do Faustão"
It was in "Domingão do Faustão" that Caçulinha reached the height of his popularity. For more than two decades, he enchanted viewers with his talent and charisma, accompanying the most varied artists who performed on the program. His role as conductor and arranger was fundamental to the musical success of "Domingão", and he became an emblematic figure of the program. He also led the band that performed during breaks in the Sai de Baixo theater program.
Estrangement and New Beginning
After 19 years collaborating with Fausto Silva, in 2008 he criticized the Domingão program and Fausto himself, which resulted in his dismissal. In 2009, his contract with Rede Globo was not renewed. In 2014, he permanently left the station after 25 years. In 2015, he was hired by TV Gazeta to work on the program Todo Seu, presented by Ronnie Von. On the program, he commanded the "Causos e Canções" section, where he played songs on the piano and shared life experiences twice a week. In March 2019, he was dismissed from the broadcaster.
Caçulinha's contribution to Brazilian music goes far beyond her performances on "Domingão do Faustão". He was a mentor to many musicians and a tireless defender of Brazilian popular music. His passion and dedication to art has inspired generations and will continue to influence artists for years to come. During his career, he recorded 31 vinyl records. The most recent, released in November 2019, celebrated 60 years of his career in Brazilian music and television.
