Ed Wilson born 29 July 1945

Ed Wilson (July 29, 1945 – October 3, 2010), was a Brazilian rock singer-songwriter, composer, director and co-founder of the musical group Renato & His Blue Caps.

Edson Vieira de Barros, known artistically as Ed Wilson, was born in the neighbourhood of Piedade, in Rio de Janeiro  He lived with music since he was a boy, and sang along to the hits of Nélson Gonçalves , Anísio Silvaand other idols at the time. The "Barros 

Family" were always dedicated to art, especially music. His mother Elair Silva, who was a singer at Rádio Nacional, won a contest as the best singer, but his father, the old “Barros”, evidently jealous, never allowed him to pursue a career.

But Edinho (as he was affectionately called by his friends), together with brothers Renato Barros and Paulo César Barros, decided to form a group, after watching Bill Halley's show, in April 1958, on the program “Noite de Gala” on TV-Rio. They originally called themselves Bacaninha do Rock da Piedade , but this was censored on the radio, so inspired by gene Vincent 

they became Renato  & His Blue Caps as Renato was the eldest, but Ed Wilson was the singer, all Elvis Presley style, that is, if you feel your own, letting the forelock grow, wearing a high collar and leather jacket. The youngest of them, Paulo César, on his acoustic double bass (tuned in C major), sang less.

After suffering a little, as always, the Blue Caps group began to be recognized by everyone, especially in programs dedicated to young people, but Edinho was persuaded to follow a solo career. He stayed with the group until the end of May 1962, when producer Carlos Imperial  gave him the stage name of Ed Wilson, however, it is worth noting that 

Ed always participated in the recording of the Blue Caps and also in some shows, never forgetting his origins and in some testimonies, he found his departure from the group a little premature.

He was hired by the Odeon label, and on July 6, 1962, he entered the studio to record his first solo recordings “Nunca Mais” - by Carlos Imperial and Paulo Brunner and “Juro Meu Amor”with the accompaniment of the Blue Caps. This obtained relative success which then was followed  by other singles but by the end of 1963, he left Odeon and was hired by RCA Victor until 1965 when he recorded “Doce Esperança” and “Como Te Adoro Menina” which are considered to be his best work.

    Here's "Sandra" from above 1966 album  Verdadeiro amor

                             

 On August 22, 1965, TV Record, in São Paulo, launched the program that would definitely mark youth music: “Jovem Guarda”, and due to the success of the show Ed Wilson was signed to CBS. which resulted in the  1966 album  “Verdadeiro 

Amor" also accompanied by Renato and his Blue Caps. His father's death in late 1967 affected him greatly, because he was the one who personally took care of his career.

Before leaving CBS in the late 1970s, he recorded in English under the pseudonym of Barry Dean.he continued performing on many shows singing international hits and later began producing singers on the  Polydor label, at the invitation of Roberto Livi, where he produced records in Los Angeles and Miami. He also composed many songs during this period.

In the 80s, he embarked on the gospel music circuit, when in 1985, for the record label Copacabana, he released his first religious album, "Rain of Blessings". In 1988, he continued producing albums and in 1992 was signed by Line Records in 1992, where he recorded  a few  albums: “ He also launched other works on the gospel line.

In 2005, he founded the band The Originals, with only members of the Blue Caps, Fevers and Incríveis, with whom he did a series of shows and recorded 3 albums and 3 DVDs with immediate success although over the years there were changes in the groups line-up. Wilson performed with the Originals up to two months before he died.

Wilson lived in Leblon, a neighbourhood in the South Zone of Rio when he was hospitalized at the São Lucas Hospital, in Copacabana during September, where he died on October 3, 2010 from septic shock due to thyroid cancer at the age of 65 years old.  (Edited Portuguese translation from letras.com.br)