Biography
Formed by Geraldo Magalhães, born May 31, 1878 in Rio Grande do Sul RS and deceased July 11, 1970 in Lisbon, Portugal, alongside Nina Teixeira, Os Geraldos emerged as a singing and dancing duo among the earliest Brazilians to appear on European stages during the opening years of the twentieth century. Magalhães had already begun his career as a performer in the closing decades of the 1800s, appearing at beer houses and cafés along Rio’s Rua do Lavradio and Rua da Carioca before teaming with the singer and dancer Margarita. Following engagements at the Salon Paris and Alcazar Parque that brought them recognition, he replaced Margarita with Nina Teixeira in 1905, and the new pair spent the next three years together at Rio’s Passeio Público.
Late in 1908 the couple sailed for Europe, stopping to perform in Mexico en route. Their arrival in Paris at the start of 1909 coincided with the successful introduction of the tango-chula “Vem Cá, Mulata,” a piece Magalhães had already cut with Teixeira for Brazilian Odeon in 1906. While appearing in Lisbon they extended their stay, during which Magalhães began a partnership and romantic involvement with the Portuguese performer Alda Soares. Once back in Brazil the duo introduced the one-step to local audiences through the song “Caraboo” (Sam Marshall), which became a major success at the 1916 Carioca Carnival. They crossed the Atlantic again in the early 1920s and continued regular appearances in Lisbon until retiring from the stage in 1926.
Late in 1908 the couple sailed for Europe, stopping to perform in Mexico en route. Their arrival in Paris at the start of 1909 coincided with the successful introduction of the tango-chula “Vem Cá, Mulata,” a piece Magalhães had already cut with Teixeira for Brazilian Odeon in 1906. While appearing in Lisbon they extended their stay, during which Magalhães began a partnership and romantic involvement with the Portuguese performer Alda Soares. Once back in Brazil the duo introduced the one-step to local audiences through the song “Caraboo” (Sam Marshall), which became a major success at the 1916 Carioca Carnival. They crossed the Atlantic again in the early 1920s and continued regular appearances in Lisbon until retiring from the stage in 1926.