Marcelo Pretto, Barbatuques Vocalist and Researcher, Dies at 58

Overview

• The musician, known as Mitsu, died in São Paulo in the early hours of March 8, as confirmed in a statement from the group.
• He had been hospitalized at Hospital Alvorada since February 18 after convulsions, a cardiac arrest and an infection, and he was intubated and sedated.
• The group previously reported that he underwent a foot amputation last year due to the disease.
• A member of Barbatuques since 1999, he helped popularize body percussion in Brazil and also worked with A Barca researching traditional music.
• Colleagues and fans paid tribute to his expansive voice, with Chico César praising a range "from a whisper to a thunderclap," and coverage noting solo releases in 2014 and 2020 and a final single in November 2024.