The Demônios da Garoa amassed a discography of 26 78 rpm albums plus 67 singles, LPs, and CDs overall, attaining widespread national acclaim throughout the 1950s and 1960s before experiencing renewed attention in 1994. The 1994 Guinness Book of Records cited them as the longest-running active popular-music ensemble; by 2001 they had logged 58 years of continuous work. Their distinctive take on São Paulo samba narrates everyday existence in Brazil’s largest city through the eyes of ordinary street-level observers, with the distinctive vernacular of the São Paulo state caipira and the Italian-descended paulistano occupying a central place in the lyrics.
Formed in São Paulo during 1943 under the name Grupo do Luar, the musicians began as amateurs performing at parties and serenatas. That March they debuted on radio in a novice showcase on Rádio Bandeirantes; victory in a subsequent contest earned them a contract with Emissoras Unidas. The founding lineup comprised Francisco Paulo Gallo on tam-tam, Artur Bernardo on violão, brothers Cláudio Rosa on pandeiro and Arnaldo Rosa (then the eldest member at age 15) handling percussion and vocals, and Antônio Gomes Neto on violão tenor. Gallo and Cláudio left after a period, and Artur passed away in 1955.
A 1949 recording of the folkloric “Mulher Rendeira” appeared in Lima Barreto’s film O Cangaceiro. Their inaugural 78 rpm single, coupling the balanceio “Siri Malvado” by Jair Gonçalves with the maracatu “Rio Verde” by Antônio Diogo and Juraci Rago, reached stores in June 1950. The group captured the São Paulo city Carnival contest in both 1951 and 1952 with Adoniran Barbosa sambas “Malvina” and “Joga a Chave,” the latter co-written with Osvaldo Molles. Barbosa’s catalog supplied the core of their repertory, and the Demônios produced the first recordings of his later signature pieces “Saudosa Maloca,” “Samba do Arnesto,” and “Trem Das Onze.” The initial two songs premiered live in 1954 on Rádio Nacional (São Paulo) and were committed to disc the following year.
In 1958 the ensemble appeared in the film Vou Te Contá directed by Alfredo Palácios, followed in 1959 by a role in Dorinha No Society under Geraldo Vietri. Also in 1958 they issued their debut 8-inch LP, Saudosa Maloca on Odeon, which yielded the hits “Iracema” and “As Mariposas.” Four years later they performed “Trem Das Onze” by Adoniran Barbosa at the Rio de Janeiro Carnival contest and claimed first prize. Recording activity remained steady through the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
The Guinness Book of Records again recognized them in 1993 and 1994, this time as the world’s oldest active popular-music group (having been listed in 1993 solely as Brazil’s oldest). Their present roster features Arnaldo Rosa on afoxê, his son Sérgio Rosa on pandeiro, Antônio Gomes Neto (Toninho) on violão tenor, Ventura Ramirez on seven-string violão, Osvaldinho da Cuíca on cuíca, and Sidney Cláudio Thomazzi (Simbad) on cavaquinho. The 1994 Warner release Demônios da Garoa – 50 anos, marking five decades of activity, received the Prêmio Sharp and featured the hit “Seu Querer” by Sílvio Mury and Bembeco. São Paulo’s municipal government further honored the group by establishing Demônios da Garoa Week. In 2000 they released the CD Mais Demônios do Que Nunca.
