Biography
Hervé Cordovil produced a series of enduring baião pieces during his career as a composer, among them "Cabeça Inchada," which later received more than fifty European cover versions, along with "Sabiá Lá Na Gaiola," taken up by Carmélia Alves, "Seu Gaspar," introduced by Sílvio Caldas, the hit "Rua Augusta," later revived repeatedly by Jovem Guarda acts and Brazilian rock performers including his son Ronnie Cord, Erasmo Carlos, and Rita Lee, and the further success "Uma Loira," rendered by Dick Farney. His writing partnerships encompassed Marisa Pinto Coelho on the classic baião "Pé de Manacá," Bonfiglio de Oliveira on "Carolina," which Carlos Galhardo recorded, Noel Rosa on both "Triste Cuíca," committed to disc by Araci de Almeida, and "Não Resta a Menor Dúvida," featured in the Alô Alô Carnaval film soundtrack, Lamartine Babo on "Alô, Alô, Carnaval," likewise drawn from the soundtrack of the film sharing that title, plus "Seu Abóbora," captured by Carmen Miranda, Adoniran Barbosa on "Prova de Carinho," and Luiz Gonzaga on the trio "A Vida do Viajante," "Baião da Garoa," and "Xaxado."
Cordovil first appeared as pianist and composer in 1931, performing on Rádio Sociedade in Rio de Janeiro as well as with Romeu Silva’s orchestra. By 1935, by then widely recognized as a pianist, Araci de Almeida had recorded his joint composition with Noel Rosa, "Triste Cuíca." In the same year he led the orchestra for Wallace Downey’s motion picture Estudantes. Isaura Garcia’s recording of "Pé de Manacá" carried the piece to international audiences. During the 1940s Rádio Record brought him on staff, where he continued for nearly three decades as pianist, arranger, and composer before stepping away from the position.
Cordovil first appeared as pianist and composer in 1931, performing on Rádio Sociedade in Rio de Janeiro as well as with Romeu Silva’s orchestra. By 1935, by then widely recognized as a pianist, Araci de Almeida had recorded his joint composition with Noel Rosa, "Triste Cuíca." In the same year he led the orchestra for Wallace Downey’s motion picture Estudantes. Isaura Garcia’s recording of "Pé de Manacá" carried the piece to international audiences. During the 1940s Rádio Record brought him on staff, where he continued for nearly three decades as pianist, arranger, and composer before stepping away from the position.