I am an American and I write songs in Brazilian Portuguese. It started in 1971 and it never stopped.

How it started

1. Fourth quarter of 1970

   At my application, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints called me to a service and proselytizing mission in the State of São Paulo. (By the way errr: I knew nothing about Brazil.)

2. First Quarter of 1971: Preparations for the Mission

   I took guitar lessons in Brazilian music, mainly bossa nova, at a music store in Santa Ana, California. The teacher showed me a whole new world of themes, expression, singing, chords and playing. The first song I learned was "The Girl from Ipanema". A great start, no? Then I learned the basics of beautiful Brazilian Portuguese at a Church home in Provo, Utah, over eight weeks.

3. May 1971 to March 1973

   Twenty-two months of mission, in several cities across states of São Paulo and Paraná. I tried to observe and soak up as much as I could of Brazilian history, culture, music AND the spirit of the people. Fascinating, all of it. 

4. With a used guitar in hand

   I learned and sang at church activities and family parties: bossa nova, MPB and sertanejo. Brazilians loved it, especially when American and British rock, pop and folk came in. A free way to learn English!

5. To this day

   There you have it, how I hooked up with Brazilian music. Never stopped playing it till this day, to the joy of my Brazilian wife and many Brazilian friends.

6. More! Fast forward to 2014 to 2026

   The miraculous period of time God has allowed me to live after being healed from life-threatening cancer. A key purpose of this extension has been to put it to full use in composing the many songs I had tinkered with in the many decades of my life along the way. Mostly in English.

   In the process, the English songs poured out in dozens, and then I refined them to record and release. And they are timeless, and purposely so.

   And I also produced a catalog of 10 songs in Brazilian Portuguese. I am starting their release with a few listed in this separate channel for my Brazilian music. Hope you will take a few moments to hear the nice mp3 patches for them.