The successful country music artist died in Sao Paulo due to kidney complications
Singer Chrystian, who enjoyed success in a country duo with his brother Ralf, died at the age of 67 on Wednesday night (19/6), in Sao Paulo. He went into cardiac arrest and was transported by Military Police helicopter to Samaritan Hospital, but ended up not putting up any resistance. The artist suffered from polycystic kidney disease, a hereditary disease that causes clusters of cysts to develop in the organ.
In a statement, the family mourned the artist’s departure and recalled his love for music, a profession he had embraced as a child. “With immense regret, Chrystian’s family and team announce the passing of our beloved husband, father and artist, which occurred at Samaritan Hospital, São Paulo. Chrystian dedicated 60 years of his life to country music, building a brilliant and illustrious career for countless successes. His unmistakable voice and passion for music have brought joy and enthusiasm to fans throughout Brazil,” reads the statement.
The beginning of his career
José Pereira da Silva Neto, from Goiás, began his musical career as a child, singing serenades with his family. Thinking that he and his brother had a talent for music, the family moved to São Paulo, where the two performed at parties, on radio programs and even on TV, attracting attention for their smooth voices and precocious talent. They also recorded singles such as Charles & Ralf.
Hired in the early 1970s, the young Zezinho, as he was known, soon began his solo career, starting to sing in English under the pseudonym Chrystian. He had great success with the song “Don’t Say Goodbye”, which was the romantic theme of Tarcísio Meira and Gloria Menezes in the soap opera “Cavalo de Aço” (1973), on TV Globo, and spent 19 weeks at the first place in the ranking.
During this period, many Brazilian singers recorded songs in English, pretending to be Americans, and Chrystian was one of them. This is why at the beginning he couldn’t appear on television so as not to let people know that he was a Brazilian artist. But the secret didn’t last long, nor did the trend toward recordings in English. The change in the market led him to return to his roots, forming a duo with his brother.
Success with the duo Chrystian & Ralf
The duo Chrystian & Ralf, formed in the early 1980s, achieved great success in the Brazilian country scene. They released several albums, including “Quebradas da Noite” (1983) and “Chora Peito” (1986), which earned them gold and platinum records. The duo stood out for their vocal harmonies and innovation in the country genre, including pop and rock elements in their songs.
Despite their success, the brothers separated in 1999, but the fight was short-lived. They got back together in 2001, continuing to release albums and perform until their final separation in 2021, when Chrystian decided to pursue a solo career.
Recent years and personal life
Chrystian was married to singer Gretchen for a short time and, since 1995, has been married to Key Vieira, with whom he has two children, João and Lia.
He was preparing for a kidney transplant, which was to be donated to him by his wife. The surgery was scheduled for March, but was postponed to the end of the year due to the singer’s health problems. During preoperative examinations, Chrystian had to undergo catheterization, which required the use of anticoagulant drugs for six months, making it impossible to perform transplant surgery during this period.
His last show was held on Sunday (6/16) in Araras, in the hinterland of São Paulo.
Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
