Walter Wanderley

Walter Wanderley (born May 12, 1932 in Recife , Brazil , † September 4, 1986 in San Francisco ) was a Brazilian organist and pianist who became known for his Latin and bossa nova music.

Life

Wanderley started playing piano at the age of five; at the age of twelve he received lessons in music theory. In 1958 he moved to São Paulo , where he played in nightclubs and in 1959 was given the opportunity to make his first recordings, initially as the accompanist of Carlos Lyra and his wife, the singer Isaurinha Garcia. Soon he was also working with Marcos Valle, Antônio Carlos Jobim and João Donato. Working with João Gilberto , he also gained international fame. From 1966 to 1967 he recorded the three albums Rainforest , Cheganca and A Certain Smile, A under the label The Verve Music Group and the name The Walter Wanderley Trio, which also consisted of Claudio Slon (drums) and Jose Marino (bass) Certain Sadness (the latter with the participation of the singer Astrud Gilberto ). The three albums were produced by Creed Taylor in the United States.

With the US recording of Samba de Verão (also known as Summer Samba or So Nice ) Wanderley reached number 23 on the Billboard charts in the summer of 1966 .

Wanderley was known for his staccato style and mastery of the Hammond B-3 organ. He recorded 46 albums under his own name. Walter Wanderley died at the age of 54 of complications from cancer .

Discography

• 1959: Festa Dançante (RGE)
• 1959: Feito Sob Medida (Odeon MOFB-3109)
• 1960: Eu, Você e Walter Wanderley (Odeon MOFB-3085)
• 1961: Sucessos Dançantes Em Ritmo de Romance (Odeon MOFB-3155)
• 1961: O Sucesso é Samba (Odeon MOFB-3204)
• 1962: Samba é Samba (Odeon MOFB-3248)
• 1962: O Samba é Mais Samba (Odeon MOFB-3285)
• 1962: EO Bolero (Odeon MOFB-3289)
• 1963: Samba No Esquema (Odeon MOFB-3358)
• 1963: Walter Wanderley's Brazilian Organ (Capitol ST-1856)
• 1964: Entre Nós (Philips P 632.197 L)
• 1964: Órgão Sax Sexy (Philips P 632.721 L)
• 1964: O Toque Inconfundivel (Philips P 632.726 L)
• 1965: Quarteto Bossamba (Som Maior)
• 1965: O Autêntico Walter Wanderley (Philips P 632.757 L)
• 1965: Samba So (Fermata)
• 1966: Sucessos + Boleros (Philips P.632.894 L)
• 1966: Rain Forest (Verve V6-8658)
• 1966: A Certain Smile, a Certain Sadness (with Astrud Gilberto , Verve V6-8673)
• 1966: Cheganca (Verve V6-8676)
• 1967: Brazilian Blend (Philips PHM 600-227)
• 1967: Organ-ized (Philips - PHM 200-233)
• 1967: Batucada (Verve V6-8706)
• 1967: Popcorn (with Luiz Henrique , Verve V6-8734)
• 1967: Murmúrio (Tower ST 5058)
• 1967: Kee-Ka-Roo (Verve V6-8739)
• 1968: When It Was Done (A&M Records, CTI Records SP-3018)
• 1969: Moondreams (A&M Records, CTI Records SP-3022)
• 1971: The Return of the Original (Beverly #SULP 19004)
• 1980: Brazil's Greatest Hits! (GNP Crescendo)
• 1981: Perpetual Motion Love (GNP Crescendo #GNPD 2142)
• 1981: Bossa Nova Showcase (GNP Crescendo # K28P-299)

Web links

• Walter Wanderley at Allmusic (English)
• The Walter Wanderley Pictorial Discography (English)
• Biography at AOL Music (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ discography