Raúl Torres
One of the most successful "caipira" (hillbilly) artists of the '30s and '40s, Raul Torres left 456 interpretations recorded on more than 200 78 rpm records and six LPs. Torres was the first caipira artist to record accompanied by an orchestra (around 1960 with Maestro Poly as orchestrator). A versatile interpreter and composer, he was considered the Ambassador of the Embolada for his mastery of this genre, having his biggest hits with "Pisei no Rabo do Tatu" (1933) and "Sururu no Galinheiro" (1934). Some of his biggest hits (as interpreter and/or songwriter) were "Jacaré no Caminho," "Não Zanga Comigo" (Nair Mesquita), "Boi Amarelinho," "Meu Cavalo Zaino," "Saudades de Matão" (lyrics), and "Moda da Mula Preta." Torres also recorded 39 songs with his partner, João Pacífico, several of them all-time hits like "Chico Mulato," "Cabocla Teresa," "A Mulher e o Trem," "Cadê Minha Morena," "No Mourão da Porteira," "Pingo D'Água," and "Perto do Coração" (even if this partnership is considered spurious by some). His classic "Mestre Carreiro" was interpreted in the film Sertão em Festa (Osvaldo de Oliveira, 1970) by Tião Carreiro e Pardinho. Around 1950, all artists of the caipira genre had already recorded Torres' compositions, and so did contemporary stars like Leandro e Leonardo and Chitãozinho e Xororó. Tonico e Tinoco, one of the most important duos of the genre, recorded Torres' songs so frequently that Warner released the CD Tonico e Tinoco Recordando Raul Torres.
The son of poor Spanish emigrants, as a boy Torres was a regular at the Negro's batuques and congadas of his hometown, a conspicuous influence in his later work. He debuted on the radio in 1927 on Rádio Educadora Paulista and Rádio Cruzeiro do Sul, a year in which he also recorded his first album (for Brasilphone) with two of his songs, the embolada "Segura o Coco, Maria" and the samba "Verde e Amarelo." Torres participated under the pseudonym of Bico Doce, three years later, in the historic independent production -- the first one in Brazil -- realized by Cornélio Pires for Columbia, interpreting "Galo sem Crista," "Gavião de Penacho," "Que Moça Bonita," and "Reculutamento." With his group Raul Torres e sua Embaixada, Torres performed in Paraguay in 1935. Through the influences received in that country, he introduced the Paraguayan culture to caipira music. Torres even claimed he was the first Brazilian to write rasqueados. He would return to Paraguay in 1944 and 1950.
With his success, he also became a requested artist in Rio de Janeiro, where he performed with the greatest artists of the time: Lamartine Babo, Francisco Alves, Sílvio Caldas, Jaime Vogeler, Noel Rosa, and Moreira da Silva, among others. In 1935, his batucada "A Cuíca Tá Roncando" became the Carioca Carnaval hit of the year and was awarded in Portugal. Six years later, the song became the title of a theater show staged by Araci Cortes and Oscarito's company.
In 1937, Torres began a successful partnership with his nephew, Antenor Serra, (the Serrinha), recording, among other hits, "Cigana," "Meu Cavalo Zaino," and "Boiada Cuiabana." The duo broke up in 1942 due to constant disagreements. Soon after that, Torres and Florêncio (João Baptista Pinto) started a very influential duo. The two of them (who had already recorded two songs together in 1932) and an accordion player (José Rielli, replaced by Castelinho, who was replaced by Emílio Rielli Filho) had the very successful show Os Três Batutas do Sertão at Rádio Record. The trio recorded the album O Maior Patrimônio da Música Sertaneja just a few days before Torres died in 1970.
© Alvaro Neder /TiVo
Discography
20 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Alas de Candil (Remasterizado)
Bolero - Released by Legacy Recordings on 3 feb. 2010
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Maketa de Platino (Remasterizado)
Latijns-Amerika - Released by Legacy Recordings on 1 jan. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rescate de un naufragio
Pop - Released by Casa Discográfica Producciones Colibrí on 13 dec. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Yo Soy el Kikiriki / Vete
Latijns-Amerika - Released by Essential Media Group on 24 feb. 1974
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Soy el Kikiriki
Wereldmuziek - Released by Trigger Records on 30 apr. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
El Cantor del Campo (2023 Remaster)
Latijns-Amerika - Released by Essential Media Group on 3 mrt. 1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Soy el Kikiriki (Digitally Remastered)
Wereldmuziek - Released by Essential Media Group on 30 apr. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Fénix de Cristal
Pop - Released by Casa Discográfica Producciones Colibrí on 12 dec. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Niñito Historia
Latijns-Amerika - Released by UNICORNIO Producciones Abdala S.A. on 10 mei 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Maketa de Platino
Wereldmuziek - Released by Pinnacle Latin Records on 1 jan. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ei Le (feat. Alejandro Rodriguez)
Wereldmuziek - Released by Dirty Love Records on 24 feb. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vendedor de Nubes
Pop - Released by Casa Discográfica Producciones Colibrí on 24 feb. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Raul Torres Canta Adoniran
Wereldmuziek - Released by DGD RECORDS [dist. Tratore] on 1 apr. 1946
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
L.A.C.H.
Latijns-Amerika - Released by Dirty Love Records on 25 jun. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Efectos del Amor
Wereldmuziek - Released by Dirty Love Records on 9 jan. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Estás Que Te Pelas (feat. Santiago Martell)
Latijns-Amerika - Released by Dirty Love Records on 14 mrt. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo