Dunga

Dunga, an amateur songwriter, produced numerous enduring classics from the golden era of Brazilian popular song, many of which were interpreted by leading vocalists of the day. He claimed victory in a 1932 Carnival competition staged by Rio’s Jornal do Brasil with the march “Nossa Bandeira.” His debut composition to reach wax was “Amar, Pra Que,” cut by Sílvio Pinto in 1934. The following year he penned “Chora Cavaquinho,” which Orlando Silva committed to disc in 1936; two years later Silva scored another success with Dunga’s “Sinto Uma Vontade de Chorar.” In 1938 the composer supplied Arnaldo Amaral with both “Foi Você” and the Haroldo Lobo collaboration “Hoje Não, só na Quinta-Feira.” Emilinha introduced “Levanta, José” in 1939, while the 1940 partnership with Nássara yielded “Sereia.” Araci de Almeida recorded “Dizem por Aí” in 1941, and 1942 brought “Odete” for Francisco Alves alongside “Morro” for Trio de Ouro. Castro Barbosa sang “Quando Alguém Me Pergunta” in 1943; Ataulfo Alves delivered “Quem é Você” the next year; and Alcides Gerardi introduced “Você é Que Pensa” in 1945. Dunga’s catalog further includes the choro “Modéstia à Parte,” waxed by Radamés Gnattali, plus “As Cadeiras me Doem” for Linda Batista and “Casinha de Bambuê” for Dircinha Batista. He and Jair Amorim wrote “Conceição,” Caubi Peixoto’s signature triumph, later cut by Dircinha Batista among others. Elza Soares recorded “Bilhete,” and Agostinho dos Santos sang “Maria Dos Meus Pecados.”