Michel Daud

Years active

1955–1959

Genres

bolero, baião, oriental music

Biography

Michel Daud was an artist of Lebanese origin who contributed to Brazilian popular music, especially in the 1950s. His work stands out for the interpretation of oriental-themed songs, often associated with the composer "Beduíno" (the stage name of José Assad), considered the "king of oriental music in Brazil" at the time. Daud participated in the album "Joias Orientais", released in 1959 by the Copacabana record label, which featured a repertoire of boleros and baiões with arrangements that evoked soundtracks from One Thousand and One Nights tales.

Michel Daud's work represents a facet of Brazilian music that is often forgotten: the contribution of immigrants and their cultural traditions. Just as Italian, German, and Japanese immigrants left their mark on national culture, immigrants of Arab origin, such as Daud and Beduíno, also brought their musical influences. The album "Joias Orientais" is a rare and valuable example of this cultural fusion in national phonography.

In addition to "Joias Orientais", Michel Daud also recorded other tracks, such as his interpretation of "Sombra das Almas" (a waltz by Beduíno), released in 1955. His work, although not as vast as that of other renowned artists, is an important record of the musical and cultural diversity present in Brazil, especially regarding music of Arab inspiration.