Laureano e Soares

Origin

Votorantim, SP

Years Active

1931

Genres

caipira music, sertanejo

Instruments

viola caipira, voice

Biography

Laureano e Soares was a pioneering Brazilian musical duo that emerged in the early 1930s, contributing significantly to the caipira music genre. The duo consisted of Ochelcis Aguiar Laureano and his brother-in-law, Álvaro Soares, also known as Soarinho. They were among the first caipira duos to gain prominence, following the influential "Turma Caipira de Cornélio Pires."

Their recording career began in 1931 with the release of their first 78 rpm record, featuring the songs "Desafio" and "Casamento." Throughout the 1930s, Laureano e Soares recorded a total of 14 records, often addressing social and political themes of the time in their music, such as "A Crise" and "O Diabo no Mundo" (1931), and "Revolta de São Paulo" and "Moda dos Tecelões" (1932). The duo disbanded in the late 1930s, but Laureano continued his prolific musical career with other partners and as a composer.

Ochelcis Laureano, the driving force behind the duo's creative output, was a highly respected violeiro, composer, and singer. He also studied choral conducting with Heitor Villa-Lobos and later became a music teacher. Laureano's compositional legacy includes the widely popular "Moda da Pinga" (also known as "Marvada Pinga"), which was recorded by numerous artists, including Inezita Barroso and Tonico e Tinoco. His work, alongside Soares, laid important groundwork for the development and popularization of Brazilian caipira music.