Luiz Gonzaga facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Gonzaga and the second or paternal family name is do Nascimento.

Quick facts for kids Luiz Gonzaga
Gonzaga in 1957
Background information
Birth name	Luiz Gonzaga do Nascimento
Born	December 13, 1912 Exu, Pernambuco, Brazil
Died	August 2, 1989 (aged 76) Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
Genres	Baião forró xaxado arrasta-pé quadrilha
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter musician
Instruments	Vocals accordion triangle zabumba
Years active	1940–1989
Labels	RCA, EMI-Odeon, Discos Copacabana
Associated acts	Gonzaguinha Bob Nelson Genésio Arruda Marinês Abdias dos Oito Baixos Fagner Dominguinhos Elba Ramalho Gal Costa

Luiz Gonzaga do Nascimento, Sr. (also known as Luís) was a famous Brazilian singer, songwriter, and musician. He was born in Exu, Brazil, on December 13, 1912, and passed away in Recife, Brazil, on August 2, 1989, at 76 years old.

Luiz Gonzaga is one of the most important figures in Brazilian popular music. He is known for sharing the rich music of Brazil's Northeast region with the whole country. He even helped create a music style called baião. Famous musician Antônio Carlos Jobim called him a "revolutionary." Another artist, Caetano Veloso, said Gonzaga was the first big cultural event that everyone in Brazil loved.

In 1984, Luiz Gonzaga won the Shell prize for Brazilian Popular Music. He was only the fourth artist to receive this special award. The Luiz Gonzaga Dam was named in his honor. His son, Gonzaguinha, was also a well-known Brazilian singer and composer.

His Life Story
Discography
See also

His Life Story

Early Life and Music Journey

Luiz Gonzaga grew up as the son of a farmer. From a very young age, he loved the accordion. He would often play with his father at parties and religious events. Later, he joined the military service, where he learned to play the cornet.

After leaving the army, Gonzaga decided to stay in Rio de Janeiro. He played music in the streets and in bars to earn a living.

Bringing Northeastern Music to the City

Gonzaga noticed that many people from Brazil's Northeast living in Rio de Janeiro missed their home music. So, he started playing the kinds of songs they loved. These included styles like xaxados, baiões, chamegos, and cocos.

He joined a talent show hosted by Ary Barroso. Luiz Gonzaga played his song "Vira e Mexe" and everyone loved it. The audience and host gave him the highest score! After this, Gonzaga became very popular on radio shows and started making his own records.

Becoming a Star

In 1943, Luiz Gonzaga began to dress in traditional Northeastern costumes for his live shows. This made him even more popular. He didn't just play popular tunes; he also started singing his own songs. This showed everyone how talented he was as a songwriter.

His most famous song, "Asa Branca" (meaning "White Wing"), was recorded in 1947. He wrote it with Humberto Teixeira. Many artists have covered this song over the years. Gonzaga worked on the radio until 1954 and was incredibly popular. He helped bring folk music into the pop music world. He created a small music group using the accordion, zabumba, and triangle. This combination later became the main setup for Forró music.

Later Years and Legacy

Luiz Gonzaga is widely known for making the baião style and the accordion famous across Brazil. His record company, RCA, mostly focused on releasing his songs and albums. In the 1960s, new music styles like bossa nova became popular. Gonzaga found himself playing less in big cities. So, he toured the countryside, where people still loved his music very much.

In the 1970s and 1980s, he became popular again. This was partly because famous artists like Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and his son Gonzaguinha covered his songs. Some of his biggest hits include "Vozes da Seca" ("Voices From Drought"), "Asa Branca" ("White Wing"), and "O Xote das Meninas" ("The Girls' Schottische").

Luiz Gonzaga passed away in 1989 at 76 years old. His music continues to be loved and celebrated in Brazil.

Discography

Here are some of the songs Luiz Gonzaga recorded:

A dança da moda, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1950)
A feira de Caruaru, Onildo Almeida (1957)
A letra I, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1953)
A morte do vaqueiro, Luiz Gonzaga and Nelson Barbalho (1963)
A triste partida, Patativa do Assaré (1964)
A vida do viajante, Hervé Cordovil and Luiz Gonzaga (1953)
Acauã, Zé Dantas (1952)
Adeus, Iracema, Zé Dantas (1962)
Á-bê-cê do sertão, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1953)
Adeus, Pernambuco, Hervé Cordovil and Manezinho Araújo (1952)
Algodão, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1953)
Amanhã eu vou, Beduíno and Luiz Gonzaga (1951)
Amor da minha vida, Benil Santos and Raul Sampaio (1960)
Asa-branca, Humberto Teixeira and Luiz Gonzaga (1947)
Assum-preto, Humberto Teixeira and Luiz Gonzaga (1950)
Ave-maria sertaneja, Júlio Ricardo and O. de Oliveira (1964)
Baião, Humberto Teixeira and Luiz Gonzaga (1946)
Baião da Penha, David Nasser and Guio de Morais (1951)
Beata Mocinha, Manezinho Araújo and Zé Renato (1952)
Boi bumbá, Gonzaguinha and Luiz Gonzaga (1965)
Boiadeiro, Armando Cavalcanti and Klécius Caldas (1950)
Cacimba Nova, José Marcolino and Luiz Gonzaga (1964)
Calango da lacraia, Jeová Portela and Luiz Gonzaga (1946)
O Cheiro de Carolina, – Sua Sanfona and Sua Simpatia – Amorim Roxo and Zé Gonzaga (1998)
Chofer de praça, Evaldo Ruy and Fernando Lobo (1950)
Cigarro de paia, Armando Cavalcanti and Klécius Caldas (1951)
Cintura fina, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1950)
Cortando pano, Jeová Portela, Luiz Gonzaga and Miguel Lima (1945)
De Fiá Pavi (João Silva/Oseinha) (1987)
Dezessete légua e meia, Carlos Barroso and Humberto Teixeira (1950)
Feira de gado, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1954)
Firim, firim, firim, Alcebíades Nogueira and Luiz Gonzaga (1948)
Fogo sem fuzil, José Marcolino and Luiz Gonzaga (1965)
Fole gemedor, Luiz Gonzaga (1964)
Forró de Mané Vito, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1950)
Forró de Zé Antão, Zé Dantas (1962)
Forró de Zé do Baile, Severino Ramos (1964)
Forró de Zé Tatu, Jorge de Castro and Zé Ramos (1955)
Forró no escuro, Luiz Gonzaga (1957)
Fuga da África, Luiz Gonzaga (1944)
Hora do adeus, Luiz Queiroga and Onildo Almeida (1967)
Imbalança, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1952)
Jardim da saudade, Alcides Gonçalves and Lupicínio Rodrigues (1952)
Juca, Lupicínio Rodrigues (1952)
Lascando o cano, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1954)
Légua tirana, Humberto Teixeira and Luiz Gonzaga (1949)
Lembrança de primavera, Gonzaguinha (1964)
Liforme instravagante, Raimundo Granjeiro (1963)
Lorota boa, Humberto Teixeira e Luiz Gonzaga (1949)
Moda da mula preta, Raul Torres (1948)
Moreninha tentação, Sylvio Moacyr de Araújo and Luiz Gonzaga (1953)
No Ceará não tem disso, não, Guio de Morais (1950)
No meu pé de serra, Humberto Teixeira and Luiz Gonzaga (1947)
Noites brasileiras, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1954)
Numa sala de reboco, José Marcolino and Luiz Gonzaga (1964)
O maior tocador, Luiz Guimarães (1965)
O xote das meninas, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1953)
Ô véio macho, Rosil Cavalcanti (1962)
Obrigado, João Paulo, Luiz Gonzaga and Padre Gothardo (1981)
O fole roncou, Luiz Gonzaga and Nelson Valença (1973)
Óia eu aqui de novo, Antônio Barros (1967)
Olha pro céu, Luiz Gonzaga and Peterpan (1951)
Ou casa, ou morre, Elias Soares (1967)
Ovo azul, Miguel Lima and Paraguaçu (1946)
Padroeira do Brasil, Luiz Gonzaga and Raimundo Granjeiro (1955)
Pão-duro, Assis Valente and Luiz Gonzaga (1946)
Pássaro carão, José Marcolino and Luiz Gonzaga (1962)
Pau-de-arara, Guio de Morais and Luiz Gonzaga (1952)
Paulo Afonso, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1955)
Pé de serra, Luiz Gonzaga (1942)
Penerô xerém, Luiz Gonzaga and Miguel Lima (1945)
Perpétua, Luiz Gonzaga and Miguel Lima (1946)
Piauí, Sylvio Moacyr de Araújo (1952)
Piriri, Albuquerque and João Silva (1965)
Quase maluco, Luiz Gonzaga and Victor Simon (1950)
Quer ir mais eu?, Luiz Gonzaga and Miguel Lima (1947)
Quero chá, José Marcolino and Luiz Gonzaga (1965)
Padre sertanejo, Helena Gonzaga and Pantaleão (1964)
Respeita Januário, Humberto Teixeira and Luiz Gonzaga (1950)
Retrato de Um Forró,Luiz Ramalho and Luiz Gonzaga (1974)
Riacho do Navio, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1955)
Sabiá, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1951)
Sanfona do povo, Luiz Gonzaga and Luiz Guimarães (1964)
Sanfoneiro Zé Tatu, Onildo Almeida (1962)
São-joão na roça, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1952)
Siri jogando bola, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1956)
Tropeiros da Borborema, Raimundo Asfora / Rosil Cavalcante
Vem, morena, Luiz Gonzaga and Zé Dantas (1950)
Vira-e-mexe, Luiz Gonzaga (1941)
Xanduzinha, Humberto Teixeira and Luiz Gonzaga (1950)
Xote dos cabeludos, José Clementino and Luiz Gonzaga (1967)