- Born: May 29, 1889
- Died: July 04, 1953
- Active: '30s, '40s
- Genres: Latin
Biography
Marcelo Tupinambá wrote popular songs that became hits, as well as erudite music, having a vast production. His songs were recorded by the biggest singers of his time, including Francisco Alves ("Ruana," lyrics by Arlindo Leal; "Serenata d'Amor," with Bento de Camargo; and "Pião," with Fernando M. Almeida) and Gastão Formenti, who opened in the recording business with "Cabocla Apaixonada" (with G. Barroso), later recording the modinha "Barbuleta, Barbuleta" (with José Elói) and the valse "Noite d'Encanto" (with Navis). Other interpreters of his were Vicente Celestino, Patrício Teixeira, and Abigail Maia. Among the erudite interpreters are Bidu Saião and Violeta Coelho Neto de Freitas. Tupinambá became known internationally after the recording of his "Tristezas de Caboclo" by the Belgian baritone Armand Crabbé.Son and nephew of conductors, Tupinambá learned piano by ear and violin with Savino de Benedictis. He directed the local band when was in high school. In 1907, at 15, he accompanied the famous Patápio Silva in several upstate cities. Still as an engineering student of the Escola Politécnica de São Paulo, Marcelo Tupinambá wrote the music for the revue São Paulo Futuro. The revue was followed by several successful tanguinhos like "Pierrô," "Saci Pererê," "Tietê," "Tristeza de Caboclo," and "Maricota Sai da Chuva" (mostly with lyrics by Arlindo Leal), among many others. His songs, mostly under sertanejo inspiration, were disseminated by the musical theatre. After an optical disease having forced him to abandon engineering, he devoted himself to music (mainly erudite), like the suite for strings "Estrada Velha," the opera Abraão, and the ballets Garoa, Butantã, and Juca Mulato. ~ Alvaro Neder, All Music Guide
