Antonio Adolfo

Antônio Adolfo was an important composer, having written songs recorded by Nara Leão, Marisa Gata Mansa, Ângela Rô Rô, Dóris Monteiro, O Grupo, Wilson Simonal, Geraldo Vespar, Leci Brandão, Emílio Santiago, Beth Carvalho, and Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66, among others. Adolfo also had a noted role in the process of making important music available through independent production, through the creation of the pioneer independent label Artezanal. His recordings of important and almost-forgotten composers of the belle époque, like Chiquinha Gonzaga and João Pernambuco, are noted cultural initiatives. As an arranger, he worked for Leci Brandão, Ângela Rô Rô, Elizeth Cardoso, Emílio Santiago, Fátima Guedes, Marcos Valle, Mongol, Nara Leão, O Grupo, Ruy Maurity (his brother), Sueli Costa, Vinícius Cantuária, Rita Lee, Zezé Motta, and others. The son of Yolanda Maurity, a music teacher and violinist of the orchestra of the Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, Antônio Adolfo began to study music very early. At seven, he began his violin studies with Paulina D'Ambrozzio. At 15, he took up piano, studying with Ayrton Vallim. In 1963, he joined the group Samba Cinco, which performed in the famous Beco das Garrafas on Rio's 52nd street. In 1964 Adolfo was invited by Carlos Lyra and Vinícius de Moraes to be a musician for their play Pobre Menina Rica (at Teatro de Bolso), beginning to accompany important names of MPB. Adolfo formed the group 3-D for that gig, and continued to perform with it until 1968, having recorded four LPs. In that year, he became acquainted with Tibério Gaspar, with whom he wrote important songs such as "Juliana," "Sá Marina," "Teletema," and "BR-3." "Caminhada" made it to the finals of the II FIC, 1967. The next year, Wilson Simonal recorded "Sá Marina" with...