Cristiano Araújo

Cristiano de Melo Araújo (January 24, 1986 – June 24, 2015) was a Brazilian singer-songwriter.

Araújo was known for the singles "Efeitos" (2011), "Você mudou" (2012), "Maus bocados" (2013), "Cê que sabe" and "É com ela que eu estou" (both in 2014). After his album Efeitos in 2011 and live álbum/ DVD Ao Vivo em Goiânia in 2012, he released his solo studio album Continua in 2013. In 2014, he released his third live album In The Cities – Ao Vivo em Cuiabá. Araújo was signed to the Brazilian Som Livre record label.

Career

Beginnings From early childhood in Goiás, Cristiano Araújo was influenced by sertanejo. Araújo came from a musically inclined family, containing four generations of musicians and singers. His parents João Reis and Zenaide Melo encouraged and supported him in his conquest for a musical career and bought him his first guitar at 6 years old. By age 9, he was putting on public performances and shows. At 10 years old, he was composing songs.

At age 13 he recorded his first EP and performed it during a popular Brazilian TV show, Festival do Faustão. His album was released and quickly shot up to the No. 6 spot in local "região centro oeste" (the midwest) charts. He was then offered the opportunity to include one of his songs in a popular "young talents" or "Jovens Talentos" CD, which would open chances for publicity all over the country.

With sister Ana Cristina In the years to come, Araújo would appear on television shows and main events. At 17, he formed a duo with his twin sister Ana Cristina. For the next 6 years six years, they would record many songs and perform together. However, they failed to achieve much commercial success and were only known locally.

Solo career In 2010, at age 24, Araujo decided shift to a solo career. He began to have appearances and features with well-established sertanejo artists and duos in preparation for a live CD and DVD. In early 2011, he released a solo album Efeitos with appearances by Gusttavo Lima, Humberto & Ronaldo and by Jorge (from the duo Jorge & Mateus). With encouragement from Jorge (duo Jorge & Mateus), a long time friend, Araújo decided to follow up his newly founded popularity with a country wide tour. In the peak of the tour, he performed an average of 20 shows per month in front of large crowds and sold-out venues. Within a one-year (2011–12) he performed 117 shows.

Araújo ended up being invited to the talk show Domingão do Faustão. This opened up doors for Brazilian appearances at places such as the Sertanejo Pop Festival 2012 held in São Paulo, followed by a live album and DVD Ao Vivo em Goiânia with collaborations from well-known acts like Bruno e Marrone, Fernando & Sorocaba, Israel & Rodolffo and João Reis amongst others. In 2013, he released his first studio album Continua.

In 2014, he released his last DVD titled In The Cities, this being held in Cuiabá (Mato Grosso). The DVD has more than 40 tons of equipment structure. One piece of news revealed is an application launched exclusively – a partnership between the American CIA and Hit Music – which will provide a direct interaction with the audience. In the record of this megaespetáculo is the special participation of international artist Ian Thomas, who is 17 years old.

Death Araújo, 29, and his girlfriend, Allana Moraes, 19, died in the early morning of June 24, 2015 when the car they were riding in veered off the road and rolled over on the highway BR-153 at km 614, between Morrinhos and Pontalina in Goiás. The accident occurred around 3:30 am, as he was returning from a concert in Itumbiara when his body guard/driver lost control of the car – 2015 Range Rover Sport HSE SD V6. There have been few details released to the public as to what caused the driver to be distracted. However, alcohol or falling asleep were not the factors. Speed (179 km/h on a limited to 110 km/h road), welded rims and lack of safety were factors. The driver and Araujo's manager (who was in the passenger seat) were using seat belts and suffered only minor injuries.

Araújo was sleeping upon Moraes's lap and were in the back seat, without their seat belts. During the crash, Araújo and Moraes were thrown out of the car, causing Araújo severe injuries. Moraes was pronounced dead on the scene from blunt cerebral trauma. Araujo had been stabilized in a municipal hospital, but he did not endure the transfer to a larger, more effective hospital – Hospital de Urgências de Goiânia (Hugo) – and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the trauma center.

The wake was on the same day of his death and was public, so fans could pay respects and mourn. Araújo and Moraes were buried the following day in the same cemetery.

Discography

Albums Studio albums

Live albums

Singles

Featured in Year TitlePeak chart positionsAlbum BRA2012 "Tcha Tcha Tcha"(Thaeme & Thiago feat. Cristiano Araújo)34Ao Vivo em Londrina "Pra Não Te Perder"(Zé Neto & Cristiano feat. Cristiano Araújo)—Entre Amigos2013 "Mesmo Longe"(Nando Moreno feat. Cristiano Araújo)76Descompromissado-Ao Vivo em Uberlândia2014 "Tá Soltinha"(Thiago Brava part. Cristiano Araújo e Mr. Catra)32Ao Vivo em Goiânia"Última Dose"(João Neto & Frederico part. Cristiano Araújo)11Ao Vivo em Vitória2015 "Tirei de Letra"(Gabriel & Rafael feat. Cristiano Araújo)32DVD G&R"Confesso"(Babado Novo part. Cristiano Araújo)— Non-album release

Promotional songs Year TitlePeak chart positionsAlbum BRA2012 "Assim Você Mata o Papai"(feat. Fernando & Sorocaba)—Ao Vivo em Goiânia"Bara Bara"(part. Bruno & Marrone)—"Ei, Olha o Som"—Continua2014"Continua"—2015 "Traição a Queima Roupa"(feat. Jads & Jadson)33non-album release

Other appearances

Tours 2011–2012: Efeitos Tour 2013–2014: Continua Tour 2014: In The USA Tour 2014: Europe Tour 2014–2015: In The Cities Tour