Rick Sollo, one half of the Brazilian country music duo Rick & Renner, has died at 59 after the helicopter he was traveling in crashed in southern Brazil.
The singer, whose real name was Geraldo Antônio de Carvalho, was traveling as the duo celebrated four decades of their musical partnership with a nationwide tour.
The helicopter disappeared on Monday, Sept. 21, while traveling from Porto Belo to São Joaquim in Santa Catarina. Search crews found the wreckage the following day after nearly 20 hours of searching. All five people aboard were killed.
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Rick Sollo Was in the Middle of a 40-Year Celebration
Rick & Renner had been touring Brazil as part of their “40 Anos” tour, celebrating four decades since the pair began performing together. The tour continued through the weekend before the crash, with the duo’s most recent performance on Sept. 19 in Sorriso, Mato Grosso.
The pair had another show scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Festa do Peão de Edealina in Goiás, along with additional performances planned through December. The tour was promoted as a celebration of the duo’s four decades of hits.
Rick & Renner first began their musical partnership in 1986, initially performing in nightclubs before releasing their first official album in 1992.
The Duo Became One of Brazil’s Biggest Country Stars
Rick & Renner’s biggest commercial success came in the late 1990s, particularly with the song “Ela É Demais.” Over their career, the duo sold more than 10 million records, according to Brazilian media reports.
Rick was also an accomplished songwriter whose compositions other major Brazilian country artists recorded. His credits included songs recorded by Chitãozinho & Xororó, João Paulo & Daniel, and Leandro & Leonardo.
The duo went through two periods of separation, from 2010 to 2012 and again from 2015 to 2018, before reuniting and continuing to perform together.
5 People Were Killed in the Helicopter Crash
The helicopter, a Bell 430, departed from Porto Belo and was headed toward São Joaquim when contact was lost. Search crews used aircraft, drones, dogs, and dozens of firefighters to locate it in the mountainous region. Search crews found the wreckage Tuesday, Sept. 22, in a remote area of Santa Catarina.
Also killed were businessman Bruno Avelar, videomaker Paulo Soares, pilot Antônio Roberto Nóbrega de Araújo, and co-pilot Leopoldo Barros Teixeira.
Brazilian authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. Reports said the region had experienced difficult weather conditions, including fog and storms, but investigators have not yet established a definitive cause.
Rick Sollo Leaves Behind 6 Children
Sollo was born in Monte do Carmo, Tocantins, on Dec. 5, 1966. He began his musical career as a child before partnering with Renner.
Six children and two grandchildren survive him. His death came just days after he and Renner performed together on a tour intended to celebrate the 40-year musical journey they had built together.
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