Cornélio Pires

Origin

Tietê, SP

Years active

1910

Genres

música caipira, música sertaneja, folclore

Biography

Cornélio Pires was born in Tietê, in the state of São Paulo, on July 13, 1884. A journalist, writer, folklorist, businessman, and cultural activist, he became known as the pioneer (bandeirante) of São Paulo's folklore due to his intense dedication to recording and valuing caipira culture. His career includes stints at important newspapers of the time, such as O Comércio de São Paulo, O Estado de S. Paulo, and O Pirralho, founded by Oswald de Andrade.

In addition to his work in the press and literature — having published more than twenty books documenting the vocabulary, expressions, and songs of the caipiras —, Cornélio Pires played a pioneering role in the national phonographic industry. In 1928, he was the first to succeed in having the Brazilian recording industry release caipira music on 78 rpm records, a milestone considered by scholars to be the creation of commercial sertaneja music. His research on traditional manifestations influenced intellectuals and academics, being widely cited by names such as Antonio Candido.

Throughout his life, he also dedicated himself to traveling theater, bringing popular culture shows to various cities in the interior of São Paulo. Cornélio Pires passed away in the city of São Paulo on February 17, 1958, leaving an indelible legacy for the preservation of Brazil's cultural roots and paving the way for artists like Tonico and Tinoco to take caipira music to the entire country.