Seu Jorge

Jorge Mário da Silva, more commonly known by hisstage nameSeu Jorge(Seu, an abbreviation of "Senhor"; born June 8, 1970;Portuguese pronunciation:[ˈsewˈʒɔʁʒi]), is aBrazilianmusical artist, songwriter, and actor.  He is considered by many a renewer of Brazilian popsamba. Seu Jorge citessamba schoolsand AmericansoulsingerStevie Wonderas major musical influences.Jorge is also known for his film roles as Mané Galinha in the 2002 filmCity of Godand as Pelé dos Santos in the 2004 filmThe Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. His musical work has received praise from many of his fellow musicians includingBeckandDavid Bowie.
The first-born of four children (the others being Charles, Vitório and Rogério), Seu Jorge had a tough childhood in the neighborhood of Gogó da Ema, inBelford Roxo. He started working in a tire shop when he was only 10 years old, the first of various jobs such ascourier,joiner, and potato peeler in a bar. Seu Jorge served in theBrazilian Armyfrom 1989 to 1990 in Rio de Janeiro, but did not adapt to the military lifestyle and ended up being expelled, in January of 1990.
The various professions never hindered Seu Jorge's dream of becoming a musician. Since his adolescence, he would frequent samba circles andfunk partieswith his dad and brothers, and early on started to perform singing at such events. It was there that, in 1990, the murder of his brother Vitório tore his family apart,and Seu Jorge ended up beinghomelessfor around three years. The turnaround happened when Gabriel Moura, nephew of clarinetistPaulo Moura, invited him to participate in a spectacle calledThe flour saga(known in Portuguese asA saga da farinha), in which Gabriel was the musical director.He ended up participating in more than 20 shows with the Companhia de Teatro TUERJ, as singer and actor.Since he had no place to sleep, Seu Jorge slept in the theater, between 1993 and 1997 – the year where he joined the band Farofa Carioca.
He's cousins with Brazilian singerDudu Nobre, and is of Cape Verdean descent.
Seu Jorge has gained exposure through his work as an actor and soundtrack composer. He appeared in the critically acclaimed 2002 filmCity of GodasMané Galinha, directed by filmmakersFernando MeirellesandKatia Lund,and then played Pelé dos Santos inWes Anderson'sThe Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, for which he provided much of the soundtrack in the form ofPortuguese languagecover versionsofDavid Bowieclassics.
In June 2006, he performed atBonnaroomusic festival inManchester, Tennesseeand at theFestival Sudoeste TMNinPortugal. He also performed at the Harbourfront inToronto, Ontario. Jorge's performances are known for their excitement as well as for getting the crowd moving.  In January 2010 he performed withThievery CorporationatAustin City Limits.
His album 'América Brasil' had a limited Brazilian release in 2007 under his label Cafuné Gravadora, distributed in the UK byProper Music Distribution. In May 2010,Now-Again Recordsannounced that Jorge's new album,Seu Jorge & Almaz, a collaboration with drummerPupilloand guitaristLucio MaiafromNação Zumbiand bassist and composerAntonio Pintowould be released  in North America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand on July 27 and in Europe on September 14. The album has been described as "how powerful Brazilian soul music can be."
In 2011, he collaborated withBeckon theMario C.remix of "Tropicália" forthe Red Hot Organization'smost recent charitable album "Red Hot+Rio 2."
In 2012, he collaborated with American fashion designerRachel Royon a line of sportswear, footwear, jewelry and handbags.
In 2015, he was nominated for the16th Latin Grammy Awardsin theBest Brazilian Contemporary Pop Albumcategory.
On September 8, he performed after lighting the cauldron in the2016 Summer Paralympics opening ceremonyinRio de Janeiro.
According to a DNA test, Seu Jorge is 85.1% African, 12.9% European and 2% Amerindian. He belongs tohaplogroup R1b, suggesting that his paternal lineage probably derives from Western Europe.
In 2023, Jorge appeared in a minor role in Wes Anderson's filmAsteroid City.