Lô Borges, icon of Clube da Esquina, dies at age 73 in hospital in Belo Horizonte Por Carolina Costa
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Lô Borges, 73-year-old singer and composer from Minas Gerais, died this Monday (3) in Belo Horizonte. He had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) since October 17 due to medication poisoning. The family confirmed the death of the artist, who required mechanical ventilation and underwent a tracheostomy on October 25th.
The musician founded Clube da Esquina in partnership with Milton Nascimento. Born in Belo Horizonte, Lô Borges collected hits such as “A Sunflower of the Color of Your Hair” and “O Trem Azul”. His trajectory influenced generations of Brazilian music.
- Hospitalization started on October 17 due to intoxication.
- Use of mechanical ventilation during treatment.
- Tracheostomy procedure performed on October 25th.
Initial trajectory in Belo Horizonte
Lô Borges was born in the Santa Tereza neighborhood, in the East Region of Belo Horizonte, as the sixth child in a family with 11 siblings. He temporarily moved to the city center during renovations to the family home.
At the age of 10, he met Milton Nascimento on the stairs of the Levy Building, on Avenida Amazonas. The meeting marked the beginning of a lasting partnershipin music.
Formation of the musical movement
Clube da Esquina emerged on the corners of Divinópolis and Paraisópolis streets, in Belo Horizonte. Milton Nascimento visited the Borges family home and collaborated with Lô on initial compositions.
In 1972, the eponymous album was released and considered the greatest Brazilian album of all time. The work was also ranked ninth best album in the world in a ranking by Paste Magazine.
The same year saw the release of Lô Borges’ first solo album, entitled Disco do Tênis. The production consolidated his individual career.
Pause and return to the stage
Lô Borges stopped performing after his initial success and lived in Arembepe, Bahia. He continued composing during his time away.
In 1978, he returned with the album Via Láctea, considered by him to be one of his best works. The maturity acquired was reflected in the compositions.
Recent partnerships and launches
A collaboration with Samuel Rosa on the song “Dois Rios” occurred in the 1990s. The partnership brought renewed visibility to the artist.
Since 2019, Lô Borges has released one new album per year. The last one, Céu de Giz, came out in August 2025 in partnership with Zeca Baleiro.
Encounters that shaped your career
Beto Guedes was known foror Lô Borges on the streets of the Center of Belo Horizonte. The two were 10 years old at the time of the chance meeting.
The Borges family returned to Santa Tereza, where Lô developed an interest in music on the streets of the neighborhood. Milton Nascimento maintained frequent contact with the residence.
Legacy on iconic records
The album Clube da Esquina brought together songs written on the street corners of Belo Horizonte. The movement expanded influences beyond Minas Gerais.
Lô Borges recorded a national tour in 1984 with the album Sonho Real. The action marked the expansion of its presence on the Brazilian scene.
