OBITUARY – Marco Antonio Gonçalves dos Santos (December 13, 1955 – June 13, 2024), known artistically as Skowa, passed away last night in a hospital in Botucatu, São Paulo, due to complications from a cardiopulmonary arrest suffered last week. He was a composer and versatile instrumentalist from São Paulo, Brazil, who played a significant role in the city’s alternative music scene.
Skowa, born 68 years ago in Vila Mariana, São Paulo, contributed prominently to Brazilian pop music. He joined Trio Mocotó in 2003 as a percussionist, succeeding Luiz Carlos de Souza Muniz, known as Fritz Escovão, who had left the trio in 2002.
However, Skowa’s most significant musical contribution to the national pop scene was the creation of the band Skowa e A Máfia in 1987. With this black music band rooted in funk, Skowa helped to renew the genre and enrich São Paulo’s black music scene. The band gained national attention in 1989 with their rendition of “Atropelamento e Fuga” (Akira S and Alex Antunes), originally released in the underground scene in 1986 by Akira S e As Garotas que Erraram.
Skowa e A Máfia’s legacy is preserved in their debut album “La Famiglia” (1989), featuring Skowa’s original compositions like “Amigo do Amigo” and “Atenção,” along with a reinterpretation of “África Brasil (Zumbi)” (1976) by Jorge Ben Jor, one of Skowa’s musical inspirations alongside James Brown and Jimi Hendrix.
Despite releasing a second album, “Contraste e Movimento” (1990), the band did not replicate the success of their first album, leading to its dissolution in 1991.
Skowa’s musical journey began professionally in 1975 and included stints with Clube do Choro (joining in 1977), founding Choro Roxo, participating in Sossega Leão in 1983, playing with Gang 90, and being part of Premeditando o Breque.
His artistic name, Skowa, was a response to racial prejudice he faced in school due to his black power hairstyle. Bullied as “Escova” (brush) in school because of his hair, he adopted the name Skowa as a creative response.
Marco Antonio Gonçalves dos Santos, known as Skowa, made a lasting impact on Brazilian music history, particularly in São Paulo’s vibrant scene during the 1980s.
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Skowa e A Máfia é uma banda paulistana de música brasileira que combina influências de diversos gêneros da diáspora africana, como a Black Music norte-americana, música caribenha, samba brasileiro, funk, soul music, rock, reggae e ritmos cubanos. Formada em 1986 na cidade de São Paulo por Skowa, músico e cantor, o grupo iniciou suas atividades em 1987.
O primeiro álbum da banda, “La Famiglia”, foi lançado em 1989 e projetou nacionalmente o grupo com o hit “Atropelamento e Fuga”, uma releitura da composição de Akira S e As Garotas Que Erraram. A banda foi reconhecida pela APCA (Associação Paulista de Críticos de Arte) como Revelação da Música Brasileira naquele mesmo ano.
Em 1990, Skowa e A Máfia lançaram seu segundo álbum, “Contraste e Movimento”. No ano seguinte, a banda encerrou suas atividades e Skowa seguiu em carreira solo.
Em 2006, o grupo retornou às atividades, apresentando-se no festival Virada Cultural e desde então realiza frequentemente shows na capital paulista. A trajetória de Skowa e A Máfia marcou significativamente a cena musical de São Paulo, combinando elementos diversos e contribuindo para a riqueza e diversidade da música brasileira.