Poli

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Also known as

Ângelo Apolônio, Poly

Years Active

1930s–1970s

Genres

choro, samba, bolero, polca, instrumental music, popular music

Instruments

guitar, cavaquinho, bandolim, banjo, electric guitar, double bass, viola, Hawaiian guitar

Biography

Ângelo Apolônio, known artistically as Poli (and sometimes spelled Poly), was a highly versatile Brazilian multi-instrumentalist and composer born in São Paulo in 1920. Demonstrating a prodigious talent for stringed instruments from the age of 10, Poli's career spanned from the 1930s to the 1970s, leaving an indelible mark on Brazilian popular music. His mastery extended across a wide array of instruments, including the guitar, cavaquinho, bandolim, banjo, electric guitar, double bass, viola, and notably, the Hawaiian guitar, for which he became particularly renowned.

Poli's musical journey began in the late 1930s, accompanying popular singers in São Paulo. He soon joined the Regional da Rádio Difusora paulista, showcasing his skills as a soloist on cavaquinho and bandolim. During this period, he also became part of the vocal group Grupo X, a contemporary of the famed Bando da Lua. His first composition, a waltz titled "Você," with lyrics by José Roberto Penteado, was written in 1939, though it was never recorded. It was Penteado who suggested the artistic name "Poli," an abbreviation of Apolônio. In 1940, he was invited by fellow multi-instrumentalist Garoto to join his ensemble in Rio de Janeiro, where he performed at Cassino Copacabana and on various radio stations, also participating in record sessions.

His recording career took off in 1944 with his first solo record, featuring his Hawaiian guitar rendition of "Deep in the heart of Texas" and his own composition "Jingle, jangle, jungle." After a period serving in the Brazilian Expeditionary Force in Italy during World War II, Poli returned to music, recording with his own ensemble, "Poli e Seus Havaianos." He later toured internationally with the Conjunto Farroupilha and continued to record prolifically, releasing albums such as "Penumbra - Poli e Seu Conjunto" in 1959. Poli's extensive discography and collaborations with numerous artists solidified his reputation as a foundational figure in instrumental Brazilian music, particularly for his innovative use of the Hawaiian guitar. He passed away in São Paulo in 1985.

Discography

• Electric Wonders (2007)
• Lost & Found (2009)