Custódio Mesquita

• Active: '10s, '20s, '30s, '40s
• Genres: Latin

Biography

The owner of a respectable and prolific musical portfolio, Custódio Mesquita wrote music that was recorded by the greatest performers of his time. As a pianist, he was Carmen Miranda's favorite accompanist and worked in several radio stations. Mesquita also wrote soundtracks for operettas and plays, and had a noted career as an actor, both in theater and cinema. His musical partners included Noel Rosa, Mário Lago, Sadi Cabral, David Nasser, Evaldo Rui, Freire Júnior, and others. His initiation in music came through his mother and father, both amateur pianists. Later, at the National Institute of Music, he took classes with Luciano Gallet. His professional debut was as a drummer, but he soon became a pianist for the radio stations Mayrink Veiga, Clube do Brasil, and Philips. In 1932, Sílvio Caldas recorded his fox trot "Dormindo na Rua." Mesquita became Noel Rosa's partner, having written with him the samba "Prazer em Conhecê-lo," recorded by Mário Reis in 1933. The same year, Aurora Miranda recorded his march "Se a Lua Contasse," which became a hit at the Carnival of the following year. His career as a composer was gaining great impetus then, with his compositions being recorded by Carmen Miranda, Mário Reis, Sílvio Caldas, Carlos Galhardo, and Orlando Silva. He also wrote many successes with Mário Lago, including "Nada Além" (recorded by Orlando Silva in 1938). In 1935 Mesquita opened as an actor in Wallace Downey's film Alô, Alô, Brasil. He also acted in Bombonzinho (1938) and Moleque Tião (1943). He wrote music for several plays, beginning with O Sambista da Cinelândia, also acting in theater. In 1936 he spent a season in Argentina as a pianist. He left a legacy of 850 compositions, among them many jewels of Brazilian popular music. ~ Alvaro Neder, All Music Guide