Cyro de Souza

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

Cyro Moura de Souza

Years active

1930–1966

Genres

samba, choro, marcha

Instruments

voice

Biography

Cyro Moura de Souza was a Brazilian singer and composer, born in Rio de Janeiro on December 30, 1911, and who passed away in the same city on January 6, 1995. He was the son of Belarmino de Souza, a flutist and bandmaster, and from a young age, Cyro was exposed to the world of choro music, as many musicians frequented his family home. This early immersion in music would shape his future career.

At the age of 19, Cyro de Souza composed his first samba for a carnival bloco in the São Cristóvão neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. In 1933, he began his professional singing career, performing on radio programs and as a crooner for orchestras like Fon Fon, Napoleão Tavares, and Simon Bountman. During this period, he also started composing sambas for fellow artists such as Moreira da Silva, Jayme Vogeler, and Luís Barbosa. His first recorded composition was the march "Olha Pro Céu" in 1934. A significant breakthrough came in 1937 when Aracy de Almeida recorded his samba "Tenha Pena de Mim," a collaboration with Valdemiro Rocha (Babaú), which became a lasting hit.

Throughout his career, Cyro de Souza's songs were recorded by numerous renowned Brazilian artists, including Carmen Miranda, Aurora Miranda, Linda Batista, Dircinha Batista, Francisco Alves, and Cyro Monteiro. He also collaborated with other notable figures in Brazilian music, such as Wilson Batista and Antônio Almeida. His work contributed significantly to the samba and choro genres, leaving a legacy of popular and enduring compositions.