Benedito Lacerda

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Benedito Lacerda, also spelled Benedicto, was a Brazilian composer, flautist and conductor. He was born in 1903 in Macaé and moved with his mother, a washerwoman, to Rio de Janeiro, to the Estácio district. There he grew up among choro singers and samba musicians. During his military service he played in the regimental band, first on the bumbo and then, after studying music, as a flautist.

Music and breakthrough

In the late 1920s and early 1930s he founded the group Gente do Morro, known for percussion and flute solos, which existed for a short time and performed together with Noel Rosa. He then formed a new group with Horondino, known as Dino 7 Cordas, and Canhoto do Cavaco. In the 1940s he played in casinos and made a series of recordings with Pixinguinha that are regarded as classics. They made some forty recordings and releases and had hits such as Sofres porque queres and Naquele tempo. He also wrote winning songs for the Rio carnival, was a co-founder of the União Brasileira de Compositores and a board member of the Brazilian authors' society. He died in 1958 in Rio.

Influence

Lacerda brought an extensive choro repertoire with him and, with Pixinguinha, fixed that music on record and in score. In this way he contributed to the preservation of the choro, a style that lies at the foundation of much popular music in Brazil.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• ?Benê, o flautista
• ?Pixinguinha & Benedito Lacerda