Tute

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

Artur de Souza Nascimento

Years active

1900–1951

Genres

choro, mpb, samba

Instruments

acoustic guitar, 7-string guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass drum, cymbals

Biography

Artur de Souza Nascimento, better known as Tute, was a pioneering Brazilian musician born in Rio de Janeiro. Throughout his career, he mastered several instruments, notably the 6-string and 7-string acoustic guitar, mandolin, and banjo. In his youth, he played bass drum and cymbals in the Fire Department band under the direction of Anacleto de Medeiros, eventually performing with legendary groups such as Oito Batutas, Guarda Velha, and Os Cinco Companheiros.

Tute played a crucial role in the early professionalization of great Brazilian artists, famously recommending a young Pixinguinha as a substitute flutist at the Cine-Teatro Rio Branco in the 1910s. Known for his reliable rhythm and harmonic support—earning him the nickname "pé-de-boi" from Luperce Miranda—he collaborated extensively on recordings and radio broadcasts with iconic figures like Carmen Miranda, Francisco Alves, and Donga.

He is widely celebrated as the innovator who introduced the 7-string acoustic guitar, tuned with a low C, into traditional choro ensemble settings. His contributions helped shape the foundation of Brazilian popular music and instrumental choro, leaving a lasting legacy alongside peers like João da Bahiana and Pixinguinha.