Agostinho Dos Santos

Renowned as a key vocalist and songwriter, Agostinho dos Santos played a pivotal role in introducing bossa nova to global listeners. His international tours spanned the United States, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, Venezuela, and Mexico. In the U.S. and Brazil he shared stages with Johnny Mathis, while in Italy he performed alongside Caterina Valente. Television broadcasts reached audiences in France, Portugal, England, and Belgium. Songwriting credits encompass “Forças Ocultas” with Antônio Bruno, “Sozinho Com Você” alongside Dirce Morais and Heitor Canilo, “Chuva Para Molhar O Sol” featuring Edison Borges, “Podem Falar” written with Renato Duarte, plus “Distância é Saudade” and “Quem Levou Maria.”

His professional start came as crooner for Osmar Milani’s orchestra. Rádio América engaged him in 1951, and São Paulo’s Rádio Nacional followed in 1955. That year also produced his debut single, “Meu Benzinho” on Polydor, which became a hit, earned a gold record, and brought the Roquette Pinto trophy. During the 1950s he explored rock and roll, recording “Até Logo, Jacaré,” Julio Nagib’s version of “See You Later, Alligator” by Bill Halley & His Comets.

The next year yielded the LP Uma Voz E Seus Sucessos, devoted to Tom Jobim and Dolores Duran material and anchored by the lasting success “Estrada Do Sol.” Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes subsequently invited him to join João Gilberto on the soundtrack for Marcel Camus’s film Orfeu do Carnaval, which introduced several enduring bossa nova classics worldwide.

Two albums arrived in 1958: Antônio Carlos Jobim e Fernando César Na Voz De Agostinho Dos Santos and Agostinho Espetacular. They were followed by O Inimitável Agostinho in 1959, Agostinho, Sempre Agostinho in 1960, and Agostinho Canta Sucessos in 1961.

Agostinho dos Santos appeared at Carnegie Hall’s Bossa Nova Festival in 1962, accompanied by Oscar Castro-Neves’s band. The same year brought A Presença de Agostinho, succeeded by Vanguarda in 1963, Agostinho dos Santos in 1966, Música Nossa in 1967, Agostinho dos Santos in 1970, and Agostinho dos Santos in 1973. At the III FIC in 1968 he presented “Visão” by Antônio Adolfo and Tibério Gaspar. He died in a plane accident at Orly airport.