Carlito

Origin

Pará, PA

Also known as

Carlos Santana Lima

Genres

choro, bolero, marchinha, samba-canção

Instruments

piano

Biography

Carlito, born Carlos Santana Lima in 1913 in Pará, Brazil, was a pianist and composer who left his mark on Brazilian popular music. He began his musical studies at the age of ten, honing his skills on the piano. In 1936, he relocated to Rio de Janeiro, where he continued his piano education under the tutelage of renowned musicians Aldo Taranto and José Ramos.

Throughout his career, Carlito performed as a pianist in numerous nightclubs in Copacabana, a vibrant district of Rio de Janeiro. His compositions began to gain recognition in the mid-1950s. In 1956, his choros "Fazendo visagem" and "Cativante," co-written with Orlando Trinca, were recorded by Moacir Silva for the Copacabana label. The following decade saw further recognition for his songwriting, with his bolero "Eu sou triste sim" (with Romeo Nunes) and the marchinha "Beleza de cores" (with J. Santos) being recorded by Anísio Silva in 1962. The latter was re-recorded two years later.

Carlito's prolific output continued in 1962 with the samba-canção "Com o amor não se brinca," co-written with Romeo Nunes. This piece was recorded by Zezé Gonzaga and also by Sandoval Dias and Manoel Araújo. His sambas "Sedutor" (with Osvaldo Lyra) and "Fazendo Visagem" (with Orlando Trinca) were also recorded by Moacir Silva in the same year. Carlito's work contributed to the rich tapestry of Brazilian music, particularly in the genres of choro, bolero, marchinha, and samba-canção.