Chico Amaral was born in Belo Horizonte. A complete musician, he can play saxophone, flute, piano, guitar, besides composing and writing song lyrics. He studied guitar and theory in State of Minas Gerais Federal University Music Conservatory.

He started his career in 1979, in the musical group playing choro “Naquele Tempo”, and he has played with Altamiro Carrilho and Cartola.

He appeared in Brazil as a partner of Samuel Rosa in the songs of the Skank group.. This partnership led the group to be the leader in radio playing in Brazil for several times. Chico Amaral joined the group, as a saxophone player, for several years, in Brazil as well as abroad. He took part in several tours, having played with the band in Rock`n`Rio (Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo), Montreux Festival (Switzerland), and in many cities around the world.

Besides Skank, he participated in the work of several other artists, in concerts or records. He played electric guitar with Marcus Viana in the group Sagrado Coração da Terra; an also with Lulu Santos in the record “Assim Caminha a Humanidade”; played in a concert with Jorge Benjor. He was a guest participant of performances by Nivaldo Ornelas. As a composer, he was recorded by several names in Brazilian Popular Music (“MPB”), such as Daniela Mercury, Ivete Sangalo, Milton Nascimento, Ney Matogrosso, Cidade Negra.

Young artists from the state of Minas Gerais such as Alda Resende, Angela Evans, Marina Machado, Kadu Viana, Amaranto, Anthonio, Regina Souza and Maurício Tizumba, among others, also recorded songs of his authorship.

Chico Amaral has composed with several artists, besides Samuel Rosa. Among his partners are Milton Nascimento, Lô Borges, Beto Guedes, Ed Motta, Toninho Horta, Erasmo Carlos, Flávio Henrique, Juarez Moreira and others.

He wrote chronicles in 2001 for the newspaper “Estado de Minas”, and, in 2002, participated in the tribute record for the centenary of Carlos Drummond de Andrade (in this project each guest recites a poem) sided with names from the Brazilian culture. From 2004 to middle of 2005 he kept a column title “Música etc” in the newspapers Estado de Minas and Correio Brasiliense.

In 2002, he recorded an instrumental CD, named Livramento, in partnership with Flávio Henrique, also with the participation of Milton Nascimento, Ed Motta and Marina Machado in sung tracks. Still in partnership with Flávio, co-produced the CD “Baile das Pulgas” by the singer Marina Machado.

His partnership with Milton Nascimento, Pietá, was nominated to run as best song in the Latin Grammy Award in 2003. He won the Multishow award for best song in 2004, with the song “Vou Deixar”, in partnership with Samuel Rosa. In 2005, he composed the sound track and the CD “Identidades” for Grupo Corpo, in the project Corpo Cidadão and produced the CD “Aquele verbo agora”, by the artist Vander Lee with special participations in the opening concert. This CD run for a nomination for Best of the Year, in Tim Music Award.

In 2006, he composed, com Milton Nascimento, the song “Balé da Utopia” for the movie by Marcelo Santiago. Also, he composed, with Skank, the last CD of the band, titled “Carrossel”. He was interviewed for the book Palavras Musicais”, by Paulo Vilara, together with lyricists Fernando Brant, Márcio Borges and Murilo Antunes.

In 2207, he release the author CD “Singular”, further to the DVD “Hotel Maravilhoso”, the latter in partnership with Flávio Henrique and Marina Machado.

He won as a saxophone player the award for best player of the BDMG award for instrumental music composers, 2007 edition.

His partnership with Leo Minax in the song “Tempo de Samba” was part of the soundtrack of the movie “Pudor”, Spanish production by Tristán Ulloa and David Ulloa.
He took part as a member and soloist of the Maria Schneider Big Band in the Ouro Preto Jazz festival, in September 2007, “ Tudo é Jazz”.

Besides playing nights with his quartet, which plays “jazz mineiro” (Minas Gerais state jazz), he acts in the group “Lado B”, of instrumental music by Milton Nascimento, with two of the Milton`s band musicians, drums player Lincoln Cheib and guitar player Wilson Lopes, and also bass player Beto Lopes and Celso Alves, trumpet and vocals.