Mariano da Silva

Origin

Piracicaba, SP

Also known as

Joaquim Mariano da Silva

Years Active

1929–1953

Genres

sertanejo, moda de viola, música caipira

Instruments

voz, viola

Biography

Joaquim Mariano da Silva, known artistically as Mariano da Silva, was a Brazilian singer, viola player, and composer, born in Piracicaba, São Paulo, around 1908. He stood out in the sertaneja music scene, especially through his partnership with his brother Rubens da Silva, forming the duo Mariano and Caçula. The duo was fundamental in recording the first registered "moda de viola", "Jorginho do Sertão", in 1929, with Columbia Records, a milestone in the history of caipira music.

Mariano and Caçula were part of Cornélio Pires's "Turma Caipira", an important promoter of Brazilian popular culture. Throughout their career, the duo recorded several hits, establishing themselves as a reference in the sertanejo genre. After the duo split, Mariano da Silva continued his musical journey, forming other partnerships and recording songs that portrayed the daily life and values of the countryside man.

His work, marked by authenticity and a strong connection to the roots of sertanejo music, influenced generations of artists. Mariano da Silva is remembered as one of the pioneers in popularizing the genre, leaving a legacy of songs that celebrate the culture and identity of Brazil's interior.