Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

Brazil

Birth

:

September 2, 1917 in Miracatú, São Paulo, Brazil

Death

:

July 26, 1995 in Van Nuys, CA

 

Laurindo Almeida was a Brazilian classical guitarist and composer who made significant contributions to the world of music. He was born on September 2, 1917, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Almeida grew up in a musical family, and his father was a violinist who played in the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra. At the age of six, Almeida began playing the guitar, and by the age of 12, he was already performing in public. Almeida's early musical education was primarily self-taught, and he learned to play the guitar by listening to recordings of other guitarists. He was also influenced by the music of Brazilian composers such as Heitor Villa-Lobos and Ernesto Nazareth. In 1936, Almeida moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he began performing in nightclubs and on the radio. He also studied music theory and composition with composer and conductor Radamés Gnattali. In 1947, Almeida moved to the United States, where he quickly established himself as a leading classical guitarist. He performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, among others. He also recorded extensively, both as a solo artist and as a member of various ensembles. Almeida's compositions were heavily influenced by his Brazilian heritage, and he often incorporated elements of Brazilian music into his works. He was particularly known for his use of the bossa nova rhythm, which he helped popularize in the United States. Some of his most famous compositions include "Brazilliance," "Choro for People in Love," and "Lament in Tremolo." In addition to his work as a composer and performer, Almeida was also a respected music educator. He taught at the University of Southern California and the California Institute of the Arts, among other institutions. He also wrote several instructional books on guitar technique and music theory. Throughout his career, Almeida received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to music. In 1962, he won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Performance for his album "Guitar from Ipanema." He was also inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1993. Almeida continued to perform and compose music until his death on July 26, 1995, in Van Nuys, California. He left behind a legacy as one of the most influential classical guitarists and composers of the 20th century. His music continues to be performed and studied by musicians around the world, and his contributions to the development of Brazilian music and the bossa nova rhythm are widely recognized.

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