Conjunto Tupi

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1930–1933

Genres

samba, choro, marcha, batuque, cateretê, macumba, afro-brazilian religious music

Instruments

acoustic guitar, banjo, tambourine, reco-reco, male voice, female voice

Biography

Conjunto Tupi was a Brazilian vocal and instrumental group formed around 1930 under the leadership of singer and songwriter J. B. de Carvalho. The group stood out as one of the pioneers in performing umbanda songs on Rio de Janeiro radio, initially performing on Rádio Cajuti with corimas, songs chanted during macumba rituals. They soon earned their own show, being one of the first to have a program dedicated to umbanda on the radio.

Conjunto Tupi's performances were frequent on various radio stations in Rio de Janeiro, and were sometimes interrupted by the police due to the strong emotional impact the music had on the audience, causing people to go into a trance. The group's basic instrumental lineup featured two acoustic guitars, banjo, tambourine, reco-reco, and two voices, one male (J. B. de Carvalho) and one female, which could be Zaíra de Oliveira or Yolanda Osório. Occasionally, musicians such as Francisco Sena, Herivelto Martins, Gastão Viana, and Euclides also participated in the ensemble.

In 1931, Conjunto Tupi recorded their first record with Victor, featuring "Cadê Viramundo" and "Bambaia", both by J. B. de Carvalho. Other hits followed, such as "Foi sem querer" and "Fica no mocó". The group released a total of twelve records with 22 songs. In 1933, Herivelto Martins and Francisco Sena left Conjunto Tupi to form the Dupla Preto e Branco, a precursor to Trio de Ouro, and J. B. de Carvalho decided to pursue a solo career, marking the end of the group's activities. Conjunto Tupi left an important legacy in Brazilian music, especially for their boldness in bringing umbanda spirituality to the radio.