Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

AZEVEDO, Waldir

(b 27 January 1927; d 21 September 1980) Brazilian bandleader and composer whose tunes were recorded all over the world. He was born in the village of Piedade and raised in Engenho Novo, Rio de Janeiro. At the age of seven he bought a flute with money that he earned by selling birds to tourists. His second and main instrument was the cavaquinho, a small 4-string guitar, but his first public appearence was on flute, in the Carnival of 1933, playing 'Trem Blindado' by João de Barro, in the Jardim do Meyer Village. He played with the Dilermando Reis Band, in the Rádio Clube do Brasil, in 1945-7. In 1947 he recorded duets with Jacó do Bandolim (Jacó Pick Bittencourt, b 14 February 1918; d 13 August 1969 in Rio; played guitar, harmonica and bandolim, similar to a banjo). De Barro had become artistic director of Continental Records and suggested Azevedo's first recording sessions; among his first first records was 'Brasileirinho' ('Little Brazilian', later recorded by Percy Faith in the USA as 'Amorada'). His biggest hit was 'Delicado' (a baião), a million-selling international hit by Faith in 1952 and still heard on Muzak today. His other best-known tunes include 'Pedacinhos de Céu', 'Chiquita' and 'Vê Se Gostas'. His tours of South America and Europe included two excursions sponsored by the Brazilian goverment with the Caravana da Música Brasileira. Compilations on CD include Delicado, Dois bicudos não se beijam and Meus momentos, all in 1995-6. Azevedo's original recordings of his biggest hits were available on a GEL Continental CD in Brazil (Série a Magia Vol. III O Cavaquinho de Waldie Azavedo) but a CD in the Os Originais series from EMI Odeon had inferior remakes.