Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Luiz Gonzaga

Role / Field:

Pioneering figure of Brazilian popular music, popularizing the baião genre.

Born:

1912-12-13

Died:

1989-08-02

Century / Era:

1912s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Luiz Gonzaga do Nascimento (standard orthography 'Luís'; Portuguese pronunciation: [luˈiz ɡõˈzaɡɐ]; December 13, 1912 – August 2, 1989) was a Brazilian singer, songwriter, musician and poet and one of the most influential figures of Brazilian popular music in the twentieth century. He has been credited with having presented the rich universe of Northeastern musical genres to all of Brazil, having popularized the musical genre baião and has been called a "revolutionary" by Antônio Carlos Jobim. According to Caetano Veloso, he was the first significant cultural event with mass appeal in Brazil. Luiz Gonzaga received the Shell prize for Brazilian Popular Music in 1984 and was only the fourth artist to receive this prize after Pixinguinha, Antônio Carlos Jobim and Dorival Caymmi.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The Luiz Gonzaga Dam was named in his honor. Gonzaga's son, Luiz Gonzaga do Nascimento Jr, known as Gonzaguinha (1945–1991), was also a noted Brazilian singer and composer. Son of Januário José dos Santos (1888–1978), a farmer and accordion player, and Anna Batista de Jesus (1893–1960), a housewife, Gonzaga was attracted to the accordion at a very early age, and he used to accompany his father...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• 1912 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1912
• December 13 (12-13) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 13
• 1989 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1989
• August 2 (08-02) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on August 2

Frequently Asked Questions about Luiz Gonzaga