Tito Madi

One of the singers and composers of the samba-canção era intuitively connected with the soon-to-be stylistic revolution of bossa nova, Tito Madi anticipated several features of this movement in the sophisticated harmonies of his influential compositions and relaxed vocal renditions, recorded on 44 albums. His first big hit and one of his biggest ever, "Chove Lá Fora" was recorded in 1957, and was also highly praised by critics and awarded several times. The song was also recorded with success by the Platters and Della Reese in the U.S. under the title "It's Raining Outside." The Platters also recorded his "Quero-te Assim" ("I Wish") and "Rio Triste" ("Sad River"). "Balanço Zona Sul" is another of his most important classics, followed by "Menina Moça" (Luís Antônio), "Canção dos Olhos Tristes," "Chove Outra Vez" (with Romeu Nunes), "Sonho e Saudade," and "Amor e Paz." He started playing music early and was interested in an artistic career by age six. Madi already was one of the directors of the local radio station (Rádio Pirajuí) at 18. "Eu Espero Você," his first composition, was written when he was 20, and four years later his valse "Eu e Você" was recorded by Os Quatro Amigos. In 1952, he was hired by Tupi (São Paulo) and worked there for two years before he was appointed Revelation Singer of the Year for his recording of his compositions "Pirajuí" and "Não Diga Não," both written with Georges Henri. Moving to Rio de Janeiro, he became a crooner in several hot nightclubs in a period that the traditional repertory of those venues was being highly influenced by jazz. Among his most important albums it can be mentioned the four volumes of his A Fossa, recorded respectively in 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974. He continues to perform, and signed with the Dubas label in 2001, the same year he released Ilhas Cristais. ~ Alvaro Neder