Oscar Castro Neves

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

Carlos Oscar de Castro-Neves

Years Active

1955–2013

Genres

bossa nova, latin jazz, new age, jazz, samba-canção

Instruments

classical guitar, cavaquinho, piano, guitar

Biography

Oscar Castro Neves (May 15, 1940 – September 27, 2013) was a renowned Brazilian musician, internationally recognized as one of the pioneers of bossa nova. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Oscar was a talented classical guitarist, composer, arranger, music producer, and musical director. His musical career started early, forming a group with his brothers in his youth. At age 16, he achieved national success with his first composition, "Chora Tua Tristeza", which would later be re-recorded by more than fifty artists.

His participation in a bossa nova concert at Carnegie Hall in 1962 marked the beginning of a tour through the United States alongside names like Stan Getz and Sérgio Mendes. Throughout his career, Castro Neves collaborated with a vast array of artists from diverse genres, including Tom Jobim, João Gilberto, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder, Yo-Yo Ma, and Eliane Elias, demonstrating his versatility and musical reach. He was also a member of the Paul Winter Consort in the 1970s and early 1980s.

In addition to his career as a musician, Oscar Castro Neves also stood out as an arranger and composer for film soundtracks, such as "Police Academy 2" and "The Lonely Guy". For seven years, he directed a Brazilian music program at the Hollywood Bowl, attracting a significant audience. His contribution to the dissemination of Brazilian culture and music abroad earned him honors, consolidating his legacy as a cultural ambassador.

Discography

• Big Band Bossa Nova (1962)
• Luiz Bonfa with Lalo Schifrin & Oscar Castro Neves – Plays And Sings Bossa Nova (1963)
• Alaide Costa & Oscar Castro Neves (1973)
• Lee Ritenour e Oscar Castro Neves – Um Encontro (1974)
• Oscar Castro-Neves With Members Of The Paul Winter Consort – Oscar! (1987)
• Brazilian Scandals (1987)
• Maracuja' (1989)
• Vinicius & Caymmi With Quarteto em Cy, Oscar Castro-Neves – No Zum Zum (1990)
• More Than Yesterday (1991)
• Joe Pass And Paulinho da Costa With Claudio Slon, Octavio Bailly, Oscar Castro Neves, Don Grusin – Tudo Bem! (1991)
• Tropical Heart (1993)
• John Klemmer & Oscar Castro-Neves – Simpatico (1997)
• Eliane Elias Sings Jobim (1998)
• Paul Winter (2) / Oscar Castro-Neves – Brazilian Days (1998)
• Playful Heart (2003)
• All One (2006)
• Oscar Castro-Neves With Special Guests Airto Moreira And Leila Pinheiro Featuring Marco Bosco (4), Paulo Calasans And Marcelo Mariano – Live At Blue Note Tokyo (2009)
• O Ritmo e o Som da Bossa Nova (2021)
• Eron Tabor From San Francisco HAIR, With Herb Ellis & Oscar Castro Neves