Kid Pepe

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

José Gelsomino

Years Active

1931–1944

Genres

samba, marcha, MPB

Instruments

vocals

Biography

Kid Pepe, stage name of José Gelsomino, was an important Italian singer and songwriter based in Brazil, where he settled as a child in 1914. Before consolidating his artistic career in the golden age of radio, he worked in various modest professions and even became a boxer, an activity that marked his strong and controversial reputation in the artistic circles of the time.

His career as a songwriter took off in the 1930s, a period when he forged memorable partnerships and scored major hits voiced by important interpreters. Among his most celebrated creations is the samba "O Orvalho Vem Caindo", composed in partnership with Noel Rosa and recorded by Almirante, in addition to compositions with names like Moreira da Silva, Orlando Silva, Aracy de Almeida and Carmen Miranda.

Despite the decline of his output in the following decades and a temperament known for conflicts, Kid Pepe left an indelible mark on the history of Brazilian popular music. He passed away in Rio de Janeiro in September 1961, a victim of hepatic cirrhosis, leaving behind a rich legacy of sambas, marches and waltzes that portray the country's cultural spirit in the first half of the 20th century.