Biography
Dilermando Reis stands as a revered figure in Brazilian violão traditions, where his outdated yet deeply romantic and plangent approach to both performance and composition continues to evoke warm nostalgia among listeners. Across an extensive catalog of recordings that stretched to within two years of his death at age 61, his fascination with earlier eras led to renewed attention for the composer João Pernambuco. Decades after Pernambuco’s passing, the award-winning classical guitarist Turíbio Santos undertook the task of documenting those compositions.
Reis sustained a strong reputation as a violonista whose pieces remain staples in rodas de choro gatherings and appear regularly on new releases. In his role as instructor he guided several notable students, among them President Juscelino Kubitschek along with the violonistas Bola Sete and Darci Vilaverde. Born to the violonista Francisco Reis, who also served as his initial mentor, Reis encountered the blind musician Levino da Conceição during a recital in Guaratinguetá when he himself was 17. Captivated by the performer’s technical command, Reis joined the tour as accompanist across Brazil’s interior regions. He later relocated to Rio de Janeiro and took up teaching duties at the longstanding music establishments Bandolim de Ouro and Guitarra de Prata.
His radio debut occurred in 1935 on Radio Clube do Brasil under presenter Renato Murce. Recognition of his skill supporting leading vocalists soon followed, prompting engagements at additional stations, most prominently Rádio Nacional, where he remained active through 1969. On 18 August 1936 Elizeth Cardoso launched her professional path in the Programa Suburbano broadcast on Rádio Guanabara, sharing the stage with Reis and fellow artists Vicente Celestino, Noel Rosa, and Aracy de Almeida. Reis issued his first 78 rpm disc in 1941, pairing the waltz “Noite de Lua” with the choro “Magoado.” Between 1941 and 1942 he performed with an ensemble of violões that animated refined evenings at the Cassino da Urca and also appeared on Rádio Clube do Brasil. A United States tour in 1953 yielded recordings for CBS. The waltz “Abismo de Rosas,” which retains favor in certain circles, ranked among Continental’s most notable Brazilian releases from the decade spanning 1950 to 1960. For the same label he produced the 1972 LP Dilermando Reis Interpreta Pixinguinha and followed it in 1975 with O Violão Brasileiro de Dilermando Reis.
Reis sustained a strong reputation as a violonista whose pieces remain staples in rodas de choro gatherings and appear regularly on new releases. In his role as instructor he guided several notable students, among them President Juscelino Kubitschek along with the violonistas Bola Sete and Darci Vilaverde. Born to the violonista Francisco Reis, who also served as his initial mentor, Reis encountered the blind musician Levino da Conceição during a recital in Guaratinguetá when he himself was 17. Captivated by the performer’s technical command, Reis joined the tour as accompanist across Brazil’s interior regions. He later relocated to Rio de Janeiro and took up teaching duties at the longstanding music establishments Bandolim de Ouro and Guitarra de Prata.
His radio debut occurred in 1935 on Radio Clube do Brasil under presenter Renato Murce. Recognition of his skill supporting leading vocalists soon followed, prompting engagements at additional stations, most prominently Rádio Nacional, where he remained active through 1969. On 18 August 1936 Elizeth Cardoso launched her professional path in the Programa Suburbano broadcast on Rádio Guanabara, sharing the stage with Reis and fellow artists Vicente Celestino, Noel Rosa, and Aracy de Almeida. Reis issued his first 78 rpm disc in 1941, pairing the waltz “Noite de Lua” with the choro “Magoado.” Between 1941 and 1942 he performed with an ensemble of violões that animated refined evenings at the Cassino da Urca and also appeared on Rádio Clube do Brasil. A United States tour in 1953 yielded recordings for CBS. The waltz “Abismo de Rosas,” which retains favor in certain circles, ranked among Continental’s most notable Brazilian releases from the decade spanning 1950 to 1960. For the same label he produced the 1972 LP Dilermando Reis Interpreta Pixinguinha and followed it in 1975 with O Violão Brasileiro de Dilermando Reis.
Albums
Se Ela Perguntar
2024
O Melhor (Remastered)
2020
Carinhoso "Sucessos"
2002
Violão Brasileiro
2002
Uma Voz e Um Violão Em Serenata, Vol. 4
1971
Singles
