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Michael Fernand Nascimento de Castro Biggs (born August 16, 1974), is a Brazilian singer most known as a member of children's music group Turma do Balão Mágico.

Early life

Biggs was born on 16 August 1974 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to 45-year old Ronnie Biggs, a British fugitive criminal who had fled the UK in 1970, and his girlfriend, 19-year old Raimunda Rothen de Castro, a Brazilian stripper. He lived in Santa Teresa, an upper-middle-class neighborhood in Zona Central, Rio de Janeiro.

Career

Biggs' music career began in 1982, when his father was kidnapped by British ex-soldiers hoping to collect a reward from the British police. Biggs made a plea on national television for the safe return of his father. Publicity from the television appearance led to him being offered a role in children's musical group Turma do Balão Mágico. From 1983 to 1986 he starred on the Rede Globo television show Balão Mágico which featured the band.

After the group disbanded in 1986, Biggs abandoned show business and worked as a construction worker. In 2018, Biggs joined former bandmates Simony and Tob for a reunion tour of Brazil commemorating of the group's 35th anniversary.

Since March 2021, Biggs has presented the musical TV show Papo Musical on cable television channel Arte1 [pt].

In 2023, he appeared in a Star+ documentary about the band.

Personal life

In 2001, Biggs moved to the United Kingdom with his father, who turned himself in to the police after spending the last thirty years as a fugitive in Brazil. In 2002, Michael received British citizenship after his parents married in a prison ceremony.

References

1. Warburton, Dan; Blackburne, Elaine (August 9, 2023). "Train Robber Ronnie Biggs' left son love and a 'dirty surname'". WalesOnline. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
2. "Profile: Ronnie Biggs". 6 August 2009. Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
3. "Michael Biggs: The end of the line for a dutiful son?". The Independent. December 3, 2001. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
4. "Ronald Biggs, o ladrão que escapou da Justiça por 35 anos". BBC News Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 18 December 2013. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
5. "A casa que morou Ronald Biggs, o ladrão do século, foi roteiro turístico em Santa Teresa". Bafafá (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
6. "Seqüestro de Biggs tem 5 suspeitos" (PDF). Jornal do Brasil. No. 342. March 20, 1981. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
7. James, Erwin (August 24, 2009). "My father Ronnie Biggs". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
8. "Ex-'Balão mágico', Mike revela que perdeu a virgindade aos 11 anos: 'Fumei pela primeira vez também'". extra. July 6, 2023. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
9. "Mike, do Balão Mágico, conta que fumou maconha com Menudos em hotel no Rio". www.uol.com.br. Archived from the original on 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
10. "Folha de S.Paulo - Fama em dois tempos: Biggs, ex-Balão Mágico lamenta infância - 02/10/2005". www1.folha.uol.com.br. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
11. "Documentário do Balão Mágico mostrará pressão por trás da fama; relembre a história do grupo". O Globo. June 24, 2023. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
12. Warburton, Dan (August 8, 2023). "Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs 'left son nothing but dirty a surname and love'". mirror. Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
13. Marckezini, Fabio (7 July 2023). "Fora da TV, ex-Balão Mágico se entregou às drogas e virou peão de obra". TV História (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
14. "Após 35 anos, integrantes do Balão Mágico programam volta". Extra Online. March 13, 2018. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
15. Marília, Giro. "Ex-Balão Mágico, Mike Biggs estreia atração sobre música no mês que vem - Notícias sobre famosos - Giro Marília Notícias". Giro Marília. Archived from the original on 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
16. "Ex-Balão Mágico, Mike Biggs estreia atração sobre música no mês que vem". www.msnoticias.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
17. "Assistir | A Superfantástica História do Balão | Star+". www.starplus.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2023-07-11. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
18. "Balão Mágico e Xuxa, fenômenos fonográficos dos anos 1980, são historiados em séries documentais". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2023-07-02. Archived from the original on 2023-07-13. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
19. "Fenômeno do Balão Mágico nos anos 80 é explorado em documentário". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2023-07-13. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
20. "Train robber's son becomes UK citizen". BBC. 24 September 2002. Archived from the original on 27 February 2003. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

• 1974 births
• People from Rio de Janeiro (city)
• Living people
• Brazilian male television actors
• Brazilian child singers
• Brazilian people of English descent
• Brazilian television presenters
• Brazilian emigrants to the United Kingdom