Biography
Formed in Rio de Janeiro during 1930, the vocal partnership Joel e Gaúcho paired singer Joel de Almeida (Rio de Janeiro, 1913–São Paulo, 1993) with violonista and vocalist Gaúcho, born Francisco de Paula Brandão Rangel (Cruz Alta, 1911–Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1971). At the time, Joel de Almeida held a post at Fred Figner's Casa Edison, Brazil’s inaugural recording enterprise; there his talents as composer and performer surfaced, leading him to co-write and cut the sambas “Eu quero é viver” and “Meu prazer” alongside Breno Bonifácio. Once Gaúcho reached the city, the pair met, and Renato Murce booked them for his Rádio Philips program Horas de outro mundo. The station subsequently engaged them, placing the duo on its regular schedule via the Programa Casé. Cesar Ladeira brought them to Rádio Mayrink Veiga in 1932, where their initial success arrived three years later with the 1935 release “Estão batendo,” credited to Gadé and Valfrido Silva. The following year they issued “Pierrô apaixonado” by Heitor dos Prazeres and Noel Rosa; the march dominated Carnival festivities and inaugurated a run of seasonal hits that encompassed “Cai cai” (Roberto Roberti, 1940) and “Aurora” (Mário Lago/Roberto Roberti, 1941). Also in 1936 the duo appeared in the motion picture Alô, alô Carnaval and began playing upscale venues such as the Hotel Copacabana Palace, Cassino da Urca, and Cassino Atlântico. Further successes followed with the 1942 recording “A mulher do padeiro” (J. Piedade/Germano Augusto/Nicola Bruni) and the 1943 march “O danúbio...azulou” (Nássara/Frazão). Their 1947 track “Boogie-woogie do rato” (Denis Bream) proved another standout, coinciding with an Argentine tour. While in Buenos Aires the act disbanded, leaving de Almeida to continue performing there while Gaúcho returned to Brazil. In 1952 de Almeida came home and briefly rejoined his former partner, yet after a handful of engagements Gaúcho relocated to Itacuruçá, RJ. They reconvened once more in 1962 to document their classic material on the album Joel e Gaúcho.