Demetrius

Demétrius ranks among the early trailblazers of Brazilian rock that crystallized in the 1980s. Composing original material in English alongside Portuguese adaptations, the artist issued eight LPs and CDs spanning 1961 to 1999 while enjoying widespread commercial appeal throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Among his English-language rock compositions stands “Hold Me So Tight,” which Young cut in the late 1950s. Multiple 1960s successes followed, among them “A Bruxa” (Baby Santiago), “O Ritmo Da Chuva”—his rendering of John Gummoe’s “Rhythm of the Rain”—and “Voltou a Carta,” his treatment of Elvis Presley’s “Return to Sender.” Wanderléa scored a 1966 hit with her version of “Ternura,” Demétrius’ adaptation of Estelle Levitt’s “Somehow It Got To Be Tomorrow Today,” a track that became inseparable from her persona and earned her the nickname “Ternurinha.” Through the 1970s Demétrius sustained momentum both as songwriter and performer, releasing further successes such as “Ei, Meu Pai” and “Nas Voltas Do Mundo.” His sertanejo compositions likewise found favor when interpreted by artists including Ari Toledo.