Popular Brazilian Singer. The son of two Portuguese immigrants, by 1926 he was living with his parents in Sao Paulo. Enrolled for several years at Liceu Eduardo Prado, he left to work with his father to support the family. He worked a variety of menial jobs. He became a boxer and at 16, won the title of San Paolo middleweight champion. Growing up, he had accompanied his father when he sang for tips. He decided to pursue that career for himself. He began to sing with other family members at his brother's bar. He obtained a contract with Radio Sao Paolo but World War II interrupted, cancelling the contract. He continued to sing in cabarets, and finally got his break in 1941. A writer for RCA was confident enough in his abilities to arrange a recording session. He recorded two albums, and two months later was hired by Radio Mayrink Veiga. The albums were critically acclaimed. Many of his biggest hits were in the fifties from a collaboration with lyricist Adelino Moreira. Unfortunately at the same time, he began to use cocaine, which almost cost him his career in the late 1960's. By 1973, he was able to end his addiction. His international tours spread his fame. Over his career, he recorded over two thousand songs, selling seventy-five million records. He won thirty-eight gold and twenty platinum records and the RCA Nipper award. He died of a heart attack at his daughter's apartment. Two documentaries, in 1990 and 2001, dramatized his life.
Popular Brazilian Singer. The son of two Portuguese immigrants, by 1926 he was living with his parents in Sao Paulo. Enrolled for several years at Liceu Eduardo Prado, he left to work with his father to support the family. He worked a variety of menial jobs. He became a boxer and at 16, won the title of San Paolo middleweight champion. Growing up, he had accompanied his father when he sang for tips. He decided to pursue that career for himself. He began to sing with other family members at his brother's bar. He obtained a contract with Radio Sao Paolo but World War II interrupted, cancelling the contract. He continued to sing in cabarets, and finally got his break in 1941. A writer for RCA was confident enough in his abilities to arrange a recording session. He recorded two albums, and two months later was hired by Radio Mayrink Veiga. The albums were critically acclaimed. Many of his biggest hits were in the fifties from a collaboration with lyricist Adelino Moreira. Unfortunately at the same time, he began to use cocaine, which almost cost him his career in the late 1960's. By 1973, he was able to end his addiction. His international tours spread his fame. Over his career, he recorded over two thousand songs, selling seventy-five million records. He won thirty-eight gold and twenty platinum records and the RCA Nipper award. He died of a heart attack at his daughter's apartment. Two documentaries, in 1990 and 2001, dramatized his life.
Bio by: Winter Birds PA
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