Biography
A member of the Portela samba school from the age of seven, Jair do Cavaquinho joined its Velha Guarda in 1970 and gained wider recognition when the school selected his composition “Meu Barracão de Zinco” for the 1962 parade. His catalog also includes “Tudo em Vão,” later taken up by Nara Leão, and “Fim do Nosso Amor,” recorded by Norimar. In 1965 the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro honored him alongside Elizeth Cardoso, while Paulinho da Viola introduced “Sonho Triste” on the LP A Voz do Morro, Vol. 1. Jacob do Bandolim once singled him out as the finest cavaquinho accompanist of his era. Do Cavaquinho appeared with the historic ensembles Rosa de Ouro, A Voz do Morro, and Os Cinco Crioulos, sharing stages and writing partnerships with Nelson Cavaquinho, Zé Kéti on “Maria,” and Nelson Sargento.
Born in the Madureira suburb, he first entered Portela under the guidance of his mother and older sisters, who marched in the Ala das Baianas. He learned to play on a homemade instrument modeled after a cavaquinho. Jamelão committed his earliest work, “Barracão de Zinco,” to disc in 1962. That same year he contributed to both volumes of the compilation A Voz do Morro. Together with Nelson Cavaquinho he penned “Vou Partir,” “Eu e As Flores,” and “Enquanto a Cidade Dorme,” the last of which Haroldo Santos later recorded. With Nelson Sargento he wrote “Ela Deixou,” which Elizeth Cardoso included on Elizeth Sobe o Morro; Cardoso also cut four additional pieces by Do Cavaquinho—“Pecadora,” “Vou Partir,” “Eu e As Flores,” and “Meu Viver”—for the same album. In 1965 he joined Paulinho da Viola, Elton Medeiros, Nelson Sargento, and Anescar do Salgueiro in the Hermínio Bello de Carvalho production Rosa de Ouro, which revived Araci Cortes and introduced Clementina de Jesus. He likewise performed with the collective Voz do Morro, whose roster featured Zé Kéti, Oscar Bigode, José Cruz, Nelson Sargento, Paulinho da Viola, Anescar do Salgueiro, and Elton Medeiros; the group issued Roda de Samba, Vol. 1, containing his “Pecadora” (co-written with Joãozinho) and “Meu Viver” (co-written with Elton Medeiros and Kleber Santos), followed by Roda de Samba, Vol. 2. The 1967 album Rosa de Ouro, Vol. 2 carried his “E a Rosa Voltou,” and that year he also appeared with Os Cinco Crioulos. Portela’s 1969 parade featured his winning samba-enredo “Treze Naus.” During the 1970s he took part in the cross-school collective Cinco Só. Marquinhos de Oswaldo Cruz revived “Enquanto a Cidade Dorme” on the 2000 CD Uma Geografia Popular. In 2001 Do Cavaquinho shared a concert and resulting CD, Meninos do Rio, at Rio de Janeiro’s Banco do Brasil culture center with Dauro do Salgueiro, Nei Lopes, Nelson Sargento, Dona Ivone Lara, Baianinho, Niltinho Tristeza, Casquinha, Zé Luiz, Nilton Campolino, Monarco, Elton Medeiros, Luiz Grande, Jurandir da Mangueira, and Aluízio Machado.
Born in the Madureira suburb, he first entered Portela under the guidance of his mother and older sisters, who marched in the Ala das Baianas. He learned to play on a homemade instrument modeled after a cavaquinho. Jamelão committed his earliest work, “Barracão de Zinco,” to disc in 1962. That same year he contributed to both volumes of the compilation A Voz do Morro. Together with Nelson Cavaquinho he penned “Vou Partir,” “Eu e As Flores,” and “Enquanto a Cidade Dorme,” the last of which Haroldo Santos later recorded. With Nelson Sargento he wrote “Ela Deixou,” which Elizeth Cardoso included on Elizeth Sobe o Morro; Cardoso also cut four additional pieces by Do Cavaquinho—“Pecadora,” “Vou Partir,” “Eu e As Flores,” and “Meu Viver”—for the same album. In 1965 he joined Paulinho da Viola, Elton Medeiros, Nelson Sargento, and Anescar do Salgueiro in the Hermínio Bello de Carvalho production Rosa de Ouro, which revived Araci Cortes and introduced Clementina de Jesus. He likewise performed with the collective Voz do Morro, whose roster featured Zé Kéti, Oscar Bigode, José Cruz, Nelson Sargento, Paulinho da Viola, Anescar do Salgueiro, and Elton Medeiros; the group issued Roda de Samba, Vol. 1, containing his “Pecadora” (co-written with Joãozinho) and “Meu Viver” (co-written with Elton Medeiros and Kleber Santos), followed by Roda de Samba, Vol. 2. The 1967 album Rosa de Ouro, Vol. 2 carried his “E a Rosa Voltou,” and that year he also appeared with Os Cinco Crioulos. Portela’s 1969 parade featured his winning samba-enredo “Treze Naus.” During the 1970s he took part in the cross-school collective Cinco Só. Marquinhos de Oswaldo Cruz revived “Enquanto a Cidade Dorme” on the 2000 CD Uma Geografia Popular. In 2001 Do Cavaquinho shared a concert and resulting CD, Meninos do Rio, at Rio de Janeiro’s Banco do Brasil culture center with Dauro do Salgueiro, Nei Lopes, Nelson Sargento, Dona Ivone Lara, Baianinho, Niltinho Tristeza, Casquinha, Zé Luiz, Nilton Campolino, Monarco, Elton Medeiros, Luiz Grande, Jurandir da Mangueira, and Aluízio Machado.
Albums
