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| Photo: Curtis McElhinney |
Oscar
Castro-Neves, the celebrated Brazilian guitarist, arranger, and composer, died
from complications of gastric cancer on Friday, September 27 in Los Angeles,
California. He was 73-years-old.
Six
decades of accomplishment and musical acclaim have demonstrated an inherent
musical genius that has made Castro-Neves one of the world's most complete
musicians of his generation. His native country, Brazil, honored him with title
of "Officer of the Order of Rio Branco" in recognition of his
outstanding contribution to the dissemination of Brazilian culture and music
around the world.
The
guitarist (born on May 15, 1940 in Rio de Janeiro) emerged in the early 1960s
alongside Antonio Carlos Jobim, João Gilberto and a handful of other young
composers, as one of the founding figures of the musical movement that became
known worldwide as bossa nova. At the age of 16, Castro-Neves' first recorded
song, "Chora Tua Tristeza," became a national hit in Brazil, and
generated over fifty recordings by various artists. In 1962, a year before
"The Girl From Ipanema" became a Top 10 hit, 22-year-old
Castro-Neves' spearheaded the bossa nova invasion in the U.S., playing a
central role as a performer at the historic debut bossa bova concert at
Carnegie Hall.
Castro-Neves'
quartet then toured in the company of the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, the Stan
Getz Quartet, and the Lalo Schifrin Trio, and in 1971 joined Sergio Mendes'
Brazil '66 group as the featured guitarist, musical director and vocal coach.
When he left the group in 1981, he had recorded more than 15 albums with
Mendes, several of which he co-produced.
Castro-Neves
performed as a guitarist on countless jazz and pop albums, including records
from Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Jackson, Barbara Streisand, Stevie Wonder, Barry
Manilow, and Quincy Jones. His greatest commercial success came as a producer,
with credits including: Grammy® winning cross-over album Soul of the Tango by
Yo-Yo Ma; Color and Light: Jazz Sketches on Sondheim, a Top Jazz Album of the
Year by Billboard Magazine and among the 10 Best Albums of the Year by Time Magazine;
Joe Henderson's Grammy® nominated Double Rainbow: The Music of Antonio Carlos
Jobim; Harry Belafonte's platinum-selling album The Tradition of Christmas; as
well as records by Toots Thielemans, Stan Getz and Paul Winter.
His film
score credits include arrangements and orchestrations for Blame it on Rio,
featuring Michael Caine and Demi Moore; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; L.A. Story;
Sister Act II; House Sitter; Dunston Checks In; He Said, She Said; Getting Even
with Dad; and Gabriella; along with numerous television credits. Castro-Neves
recorded as a Mack Avenue Records artist from 2003 until 2006, releasing All
One and Playful Heart on the label.
Castro-Neves
is remembered for his indefatigable enthusiasm, an infectious charm, and a
passion for humanity that touched many. He is survived by his wife Lorraine,
and two daughters, Felicia and Bianca.
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