Unforgettable Voices of Brazilian Radio

In the first half of the 20th century, radio was responsible for discovering a vast number of talents in Brazilian music. In the 1930s, the device started to become increasingly prevalent in Brazilian homes, establishing itself as a means of mass communication and playing a vital role in the country’s culture. In this showcase, get to know some of the voices of Brazilian music that had their heyday in the golden age of radio:

One of the first black artists to stand out in the Brazilian record market as a singer and songwriter, Ataulfo Alves introduced Brazil to a unique way of creating samba with a Minas Gerais twist. His work features great songs like ‘Ai, que Saudade da Amélia,’ ‘Meus Tempos de Criança,’ and ‘Na Cadência do Samba.’

One of the biggest names in 20th-century Brazilian music, Dorival Caymmi was a composer and singer who introduced the Bahian version of samba to the world. With his deep voice and unmistakable guitar, he composed unforgettable songs like ‘O Mar,’ ‘O Samba da Minha Terra,’ and ‘O Que É Que a Baiana Tem?’.

Emilinha Borba was one of the main icons of the Radio Era. Born in the Mangueira neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, she won over her audience by singing carnival songs, and immortalized herself in recordings of sambas and marches such as ‘Chiquita Bacana,’ ‘Escandalosa,’ and ‘Tomara que chova.’

Influenced by French music, Ivon Curi stood out for the timbre of his voice, which ranged between dramatic and smooth interpretations. His repertoire featured xotes, baiões, and sambas-canções, with historic recordings that include the tracks ‘Farinhada,’ ‘Obrigado,’ and ‘O Xote das Meninas.’

The winner of the Queen of the Radio award for 12 consecutive years, Linda Batista was, besides being an excellent singer, a great guitarist. She was the sister of Dircinha Batista, another major voice on the radio, and her recordings include the compositions ‘Amor Passageiro,’ ‘Calúnia,’ and ‘Me Deixa em Paz.’

Although he started his career recording instrumental albums, Luiz Gonzaga established himself as a singer. Crowned the ‘King of Baião,’ he is one of the pillars of 20th-century Brazilian music, immortalized with a songbook that includes tracks like ‘Asa Branca,’ ‘Assum Preto,’ and ‘Baião.’

A singer who debuted on Rádio Bandeirantes in São Paulo, Marlene fled from her conservative family to Rio de Janeiro in order to dedicate herself to her music career. Performing under the slogan “She who sings and sambas differently,” she immortalized herself with songs like ‘Coitadinho do Papai,’ ‘Qui Nem Jiló,’ and ‘Mora Na Filosofia.’

Queen of the Radio in 1952, Mary Gonçalves was the singer responsible for introducing the pianist Johnny Alf as a composer. With a cool style, her repertoire included songs like ‘O Que É Amar,’ ‘Carnaval na Bienal,’ and ‘Podem Falar.’

Introduced by Francisco Alves on his Rádio Cajuti show, Orlando Silva earned the nickname “The Singer of the Masses” and had his most successful period in the 1940s. With a vocal signature characterized by precise rhythmic division and breathing, he is immortalized in songs like ‘Carinhoso,’ ‘Lábios que Beijei,’ and ‘Rosa.’

Nicknamed “Caboclinho Querido,” Silvio Caldas was one of the most important seresta singers in Brazilian music, and also ventured into samba. He was born in Rio de Janeiro and had a career marked by collaborations with the poet and journalist Orestes Barbosa, such as ‘Chão de Estrelas,’ ‘Arranha-céu,’ and ‘Meu Erro.’

The Rio de Janeiro native Vicente Celestino had a tenor voice and became one of the great radio idols of the 1910s. A composer, actor, guitarist, and pianist, as well as a singer, he recorded carnival songs and hymns and stood out with compositions like ‘O Ébrio’ and ‘Coração Materno.’