Luciano draws inspiration from jazz greats like Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke, and Marcus Miller, as well as contemporary virtuosos such as Richard Bona, Victor Bailey, and Victor Wooten. Beyond well-known icons, he also finds inspiration in lesser-known musicians whose sounds have left a lasting impact on him. His musical influences span a wide range of genres and artists, including Paul McCartney, Sir George Martin, Aretha Franklin, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Seal, Rush, Van Halen, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Yes, Bruce Springsteen, Thin Lizzy, The Who, Talking Heads, Toto, Justin Timberlake, Robert Cray, Jeff Beck, Stanley Jordan, Jean-Luc Ponty, Lee Ritenour, and The Rolling Stones, to name just a few.
Luciano Mendonça’s musical journey began with his mother’s influence and his love for music. He started playing music by grabbing his mother’s accordion while she played the piano, and even tried playing the trumpet when he was younger. At the age of 11, he started playing the guitar but later switched to the bass guitar at the suggestion of one of the tutors at his music school. He landed his first gig as a bass player at the age of 13 and continued to play in different gigs and attend music courses.
Luciano played in several bands, including Emerson Nogueira’s Versao Acustica band and a British progressive-rock band during a period in the UK. He also had the opportunity to play alongside other Brazilian musicians such as Guto Goffi, Paulo Ricardo, Wilson Sideral, Claudio Venturine, and others, as well as the super international star, Julio Iglesias.
After taking a break to explore the business side of the music industry, Luciano had the opportunity to travel to several countries and collaborate with artists from North America, Europe, and South America, labels like Sony Music, and top managers. This experience gave him valuable insights into the industry, which he now applies to his own work.
Despite stepping away from performing, his dedication to music never waned—he remained an active student and teacher of the craft. Reigniting his passion, Luciano is now focused on exciting new projects and eager to share his love for music with the world. He looks forward to returning to the stage and continuing to make music for years to come.
