The authentic samba from Rio de Janeiro is well represented by Jair Rodrigues.
Finding himself in Rio, Jair
Rodrigues survived by
relying on day jobs until he
received Radio Culture’s first
prize, allowing him to
perform his first gigs in local
nightclubs.
His first success, O Morro
não tem vez, featured on his
album O Samba como ele é.
In 1964, his song Deixa isso
pra lá mixed a very
unusual and
innovative way
of singing
with funk rhythm, making
him sort of a rap precursor
in Brazil.
In the following year,
he met Elis
Regina and recorded three albums with her:
Dois no Bossa - Volumes 1, 2 and 3. Their
collaboration was such a
success that they were
invited to host one of the
major music TV shows in
Brazil: O Fino da Bossa
for Record TV.
In 1966, Jair received the
first prize in the Record
TV’s festival for his
performance of
Disparada.
Jair never stopped
performing and still
participates in
innumerous music
festivals all over the world.
He is also the father of the singers Jair
Oliveira and Luciana Mello, who are part of
the new generation of Brazilian popular
music.
