O Terço

Formed in Rio in 1968 as a trio—Jorge Amiden, Sérgio Hinds, and Vinícius Cantuária—O Terço took its name from the idea of a third, after abandoning "Santíssima Trindade" to avoid conflict with the Church. Its debut LP was released by the Forma label in 1970, blending rock, folk, and classical touches, and its cover, photographed inside a church, caused controversy. That same year, "Tributo ao Sorriso" placed third at the V Festival Internacional da Canção. Under Hinds's leadership, the band changed lineups many times, moved into progressive rock, and reached a broad audience with Criaturas da Noite in 1975.