Agostinho Dos Santos | en

Agostinho dos Santos (Apr 25,1932 São Paulo - Jul 12, 1973 Paris) was an outstanding brazilian singer and composer, closely linked with the presentation of bossa nova to a broader international audience.Among his compositions, can be mentioned "Forças Ocultas" (with Antônio Bruno), "Sozinho Com Você" (with Dirce Morais/Heitor Canilo), "Chuva Para Molhar O Sol" (with Edison Borges), "Podem Falar" (with Renato Duarte), "Distância é Saudade," and "Quem Levou Maria," among others.

Professional debut was as a crooner in Osmar Milani's orchestra. Radio: 1951, Rádio América, and, in 1955, Rádio Nacional (both from São Paulo).
First record (1955): "Meu Benzinho" (Polydor). The song was a hit, yielding a gold record and the Roquette Pinto trophy.

First LP (1956): "Uma Voz E Seus Sucessos", dedicated to Tom Jobim and Dolores Duran's songs. The album contained "Estrada Do Sol," which remained as one of his biggest hits. He was then invited by Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes to record the soundtrack (together with João Gilberto) of the Marcel Camus film "Orfeu do Carnaval", which launched several of the most famous classics of the soon-to-be bossa nova internationally).

Another LPs: "Antônio Carlos Jobim e Fernando César Na Voz De Agostinho Dos Santos" and "Agostinho Espetacular" (both in 1958); "O Inimitável Agostinho" (1959); "Agostinho, Sempre Agostinho" (1960); "Agostinho Canta Sucessos" (1961); "A Presença de Agostinho" (1962), "Vanguarda" (1963), "Agostinho dos Santos" (1966), "Música Nossa" (1967), "Agostinho dos Santos" (1970), and "Agostinho dos Santos" (1973).

In 1962, he participated in the Carneggie Hall's Bossa Nova Festival, backed by Oscar Castro-Neves's band. In the same year, he released.

Was married with the great singer Elza Laranjeira. Died in a plane accident at the Orly airport. .