Arlindo Santana

Origin

Piracicaba, SP

Also known as

Arlindo Vieira Santana

Years Active

1913–1939

Genres

sertanejo, moda de viola, música caipira

Instruments

viola, voice

Biography

Arlindo Santana was a pioneer of sertanejo music, born in Piracicaba, São Paulo, in 1892. He stood out as a composer, instrumentalist, and singer, being recognized as the first Brazilian musician to have his name individually on a sertanejo record, as part of the "Cornélio Pires Caipira Series" and the "Cornélio Pires Caipira Crew". His musical career began around 1913, and he recorded dozens of records with various renowned record labels.

In 1930, he formed a duo with Joaquim Teixeira, with whom he recorded moda-de-violas of his own authorship, such as "Eu Nasci de Madrugada" and "A Quebra dos Fazendeiros". Santana was also a pioneer in composing and recording a moda de viola with a political theme, the "Moda da Revolução", in 1924, in support of the Tenentist uprising. Throughout his career, he formed partnerships with other artists such as Sebastiãozinho, Francisco Pedro, and Vila Nova.

Arlindo Santana's compositions were re-recorded by important names in sertanejo music, such as Inezita Barroso, Tonico e Tinoco, and Rolando Boldrin. Despite his fundamental role in the consolidation of the genre, he stepped away from artistic life with the development of the sertanejo music market. Arlindo Santana passed away in 1979, the victim of a traffic accident, leaving a significant legacy for Brazilian caipira music.