Brazilian country music singer Felipe Silva died Monday, July 14, at age 24, two days after suffering a fatal head injury in a pickup truck accident in Araguaína, a city in the Brazilian state of Tocantins.
Silva was sitting in the back of a parked pickup truck on Saturday when someone suddenly started the engine, according to his manager. The unexpected jolt caused Silva to lose his balance and fall from the vehicle, striking his head on the ground. He was immediately rushed to a local hospital where medical staff treated him for brain swelling.
Silva was one half of the rising country music duo Felipe & Raphael, which he formed in 2024 with childhood friend Raphael Sousa. The pair had performed their first show together in April and were planning to release their debut EP, titled “Extended Play,” later in 2025.
The official Instagram page for Felipe & Raphael announced Silva’s death on Monday. The band’s statement indicated that Silva was more than an artist and described him as light, joy, courage, and perseverance. The post noted that wherever Silva went, he left smiles and planted seeds of positivity.
The duo’s manager, Diego Roni, shared a tribute to Silva on his Instagram Story on Tuesday. Roni indicated that “Felipe is no longer with us physically, and this pain is difficult to put into words.” The manager emphasized that Silva’s spirit would remain through what he left on stages, backstage, in rehearsals, conversations, and dreams.
Silva’s final Instagram post, shared on June 29, revealed his optimism about his burgeoning music career. In the Portuguese-language post, Silva expressed that each chord represented a step toward his dream that grew stronger each day. He acknowledged that while it was just the beginning of his career, his desire to make a living from music was already substantial, and he thanked everyone who believed in him.
The country music duo had recently performed a show in early July, just weeks before Silva’s death. Videos posted on their social media accounts showed the pair performing together, demonstrating their musical chemistry as childhood friends who had successfully transitioned into professional collaborators.
Roni explained that the duo Felipe & Raphael was born with a specific purpose and flame that Silva helped ignite. The manager indicated that this flame would now be kept alive by all those who knew and worked with Silva, suggesting that the musical project might continue in some form as a tribute to his memory.
Social media posts suggest the country band may continue making music following Silva’s death. On Wednesday, Raphael shared throwback pictures and videos of Silva on his Instagram account to honor his deceased bandmate and musical partner.
The band’s statement reflected on what should have been another chapter of their beautiful project, filled with dreams, courage, and music. They described their collaboration as a project born from the heart and true friendship, nurtured with talent, faith, and a strong desire to succeed in the competitive Brazilian country music scene.
Silva and Sousa’s friendship dated back to their childhood, providing a strong foundation for their musical collaboration. Their planned EP release would have marked their first major recording project together, representing years of preparation and the realization of their shared musical ambitions.
