Marco Antonio de Carvalho is a Brazilian performing musician, guitarist, singer, and composer. Born and raised in the São Cristóvão neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he started out playing percussion with friends on the streets of his hometown. The guitar was ever-present in those days, so Marco developed his musical ability by “street learning” - playing by ear on the street, listening to friends and others with more experience. A favorite way to play was using the guitar as a percussion instrument and playing Samba by tapping on tables and doors with his brother and friends at school.

Music was all around when Marco was growing up - playing on the stereo or live in the streets where people danced and sang. He listened and learned. Marco fondly remembers warm days playing and learning with friends under a tree on a sidewalk or at the beach where food and music merged. Rio was full of the energy of Carnaval. Tambores and Batucada - dance and jam sessions - were everywhere. His experiences at Carnaval parades, matinee clubs, Samba events, Umbanda, Tambores, and Candomblé ritual rooms with his family greatly influenced his musical development and style.

At 17, he began to develop his personal sound, tone, and technique by playing professionally in nightclubs around Rio and playing Música Popular Brasileira while traveling across Brazil. Formally, he was classically trained at the Conservatório Brasileiro de Música and Instituto Villa-Lobos in Rio, where he studied guitar performance, musical theory, and harmony with Sergio Vale and Juarez Carvalho (no relation). Marco also studied with pianist Luiz Eça, guitarist Helio Delmiro and Ronaldo Miranda at the Pro Arte. Marco has performed with many musicians around Brazil and in the United States. He has accompanied crooners everywhere - some famous and some not. 

Eventually, Marco had the opportunity to play and tour with Paulo Sá, first in Rio and then on the East Coast of the United States for a month each year. When an opportunity arose to play the West Coast, Marco took it, eventually establishing his residence in Seattle, Washington. There, he continues to expand his life's repertoire performing an extensive catalog of music from Rio de Janeiro as well as original compositions, recording with fabulous musicians, leading workshops, and teaching lessons on guitar.