Lanny Gordin

Lanny Gordin contributed to shaping the sound of Tropicália with his guitar, having been a disputed musician by the principal artists of the movement and others that were attracted by his musical qualities. The first Tropicália record on which Gordin played was the first individual release by Gal Costa, Gal Costa (Philips, 1969), which impressed musical director, arranger, and conductor Rogério Duprat. It was followed by albums from Caetano Veloso (1969), Gilberto Gil (1969, 1972), Gal Costa (1970, 1971), Rita Lee (1972), Erasmo Carlos (1971), Jards Macalé (1972), Elis Regina, and others. In 1971, he backed Jair Rodrigues on a European tour and had his last important register in "De Cara," from Caetano's Araçá Azul. Gordin spent some time in Israel, arriving at age six in Brazil. He started at 13 as a self-taught guitarist, and at 16 debuted at his father's nightclub, the Stardust (downtown São Paulo), where he played Heraldo do Monte and Hermeto Pascoal. After a bad LSD trip that triggered a schizophrenic process in 1974, he abandoned music and spent much time in asylums. In 1982, he tried to make a comeback, forming with Arnaldo Antunes and the visual artist Aguillar the ephemerous Banda Performática. In the '90s, his name was brought to the scene again by Chico César, who dedicated the song "Lenny Qual?" to him, which was recorded on Vange Milliet's debut album (1995). He also participated in Chico's Aos Vivos (1995) and Cuzcuz Clã (1996). In 1999, he took part in Jards Macalé's O Q Faço É Música.