Biography

Augusto Calheiros, a singer of enormous success in the golden age of Brazilian song, introduced northeastern rhythms in Rio with his group Turunas da Mauricéia. Known as "Patativa do Norte," he moved with his family to Recife PE, becoming acquainted with Luperce Miranda's family, all musicians. When the Miranda siblings -- Luperce Miranda (mandolin), João Miranda (mandolin), Romualdo Miranda (violão, or acoustic guitar), the blind Manuel de Lima (violão), and João Frazão (violão) -- teamed together to form Turunas da Mauricéia, they called Calheiros to be the group's singer. In January 1927, Turunas arrived in Rio without Luperce. With regional costumes and musical genres (emboladas, cocos, etc.), they opened a show at the Teatro Lírico, achieving great success. They were also very successful in performances on Rádio Clube. The embolada "Pinião" (Luperce Miranda) became the biggest hit of the Carnival of 1928. Hired by Odeon, Calheiros recorded several albums through that recording company, backed by Turunas. Turunas returned to Recife, but Calheiros remained in Rio. In 1929 Calheiros recorded "Valsa da Saudade" (Levino da Conceição) and "Saudades do Rio Grande" (Levino da Coinceição/Nelson Paixão). In 1933, Calheiros recorded two songs through RCA Victor: "Alma de Tupi" (Jararaca) and "Céu do Brasil" (Henrique Vogeler/Jararaca). In the same year he returned to Odeon, where he recorded one of his greatest hits, the waltz "Revendo o Passado" (Freire Júnior). In the same year, he recorded through Odeon another of his greatest hits, the waltz "Ave Maria" (Erotides de Campos/Jonas Neves). In 1945, he signed again with Victor, remaining there until 1950. Calheiros then recorded several hits, including "Senhor da Floresta" (1945) and "Garoto de Rua" (1947, René Bittencourt), "Caboclo Vingador" (Artur Goulart/José Colombo), "Fatal Desilusão" (1947, Meira/Marcial Mota) and "Dúvida" (Luís Gonzaga), along with "Célia" and "Bela," written by himself. He also wrote "Adeus," "Pilar," and "Pisa no Chão Devagar." That production was reissued in the LP Augusto Calheiros. In 1950, he recorded his last big hit for Todamérica, "Grande Mágoa" (Clóvis Santos). In 1955, Calheiros re-recorded some of his biggest hits for Odeon, like the song "Chuá chuá" (Pedro Sá Pereira/Ary Pavão), "Pinião" and "Revendo o Passado." ~ Alvaro Neder