A composer, producer, playwright, and conductor, Marcus Vinicius has play an important part in Brazilian popular music. He was also as the A&R director of the much celebrated Discos Marcus Pereira recording company, specialized in historical and folkloric musical research, and, in the '90s, of the CPC-UMES, another recording company devoted to quality artists who cannot find opportunities in the commercial sector. In 1967, Vinicius participated in the Festival of Paraíba, interpreting "Poeira" (with Marcos Tavares), which earned a third place prize. In the same year, he won another festival, the II Feira de Música do Nordeste (Recife, Pernambuco), with "Chegança de Fim de Tarde," and tied for first place with "Rosa Amarela" (Geraldo Azevedo). In 1968, he went to Rio de Janeiro, performing on the university circuit (the name given to the cultural opportunities opened up in universities focusing on resistance and criticism against the military dictatorship) with Naná Vasconcelos and Geraldo Azevedo. In 1970, Vinicius participated, with Sérgio Ricardo and Sidney Miller, in the show Opção. Moving to São Paulo, he participated, together with Belchior, in the show A Palo Seco. His first solo album, the LP Dedalus, was released in 1974, the year in which he did the musical direction of Belchior's debut album. In 1975, his play Domingo Zepelin was awarded by the National Service of Theater and was staged in the next year. Still in the '70s. Vinicius became A&R director of Discos Marcus Pereira. In 1978, he produced the first album by the viola player and singer Dércio Marques. The same year, Vinicius had another play awarded by the National Service of Theater, Boca do Inferno, inspired by Gregório de Matos Guerra. He also wrote soundtracks for cinema, for films such as A Hora da Estrela and Uma Questão de Terra, and for theater (O Burguês Ridículo and Sonho de uma Noite de Verão). ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi