Thais & Luiz meet Leila Silva at Ordem dos Músicos - 2012

Thaís Matarazzo Cantero was an entrepreneur at heart. She made things happen. She would meet someone like the president of São Paulo's Order of Musicians, and sooner than later she would organize an afternoon recital at their headquarters at Edifício Itália at the heart of the city São Paulo.

I had met Thaís at Pateo do Collégio some time in 2004. We both took part in a weekly meeting of people who admired show business & Brazilian music of the 1930s & 1940s. Thaís had a special preference for Aurora Miranda, who had a much more famous sister called... Carmen Miranda. Thaís also liked to write biographies about show-business people who lived in the 20s, 30s & 40s.

One day, Thaís told me she was going to meet Leila Silva, who had been a popular singer in the late 1950s and 1960s at the headquarters of the Order of Musicians. I had already told Thaís, I had a special bias to Leila Silva, for she was Number One at the Hit Parade, when I moved to São Paulo in December 1960, with a samba-choro called 'Não sabemos'. I was really impressed by that particular song and I elected her my favourite female singer. More than 50 years had already gone by but I was still excited when Thaís invited me to go along and meet my former teen-idol.

Here are the photos taken on that particular Wednesday afternoon, 3rd October 2012.  Twelve years have gone by... Thaís, sadly passed away in early 2023 and Leila, unfortunately had been struck with some form of the Alzheimer disease, and is being taken care of by her daughter in Santos-SP. But the memories are so alive I just can't believe it was so long ago. It seems like only yesterday. 

Thais Matarazzo, Valdir Comegno, popular singer Leila Silva and someone who worked at São Paulo's Order of Musicians, in the afternoon of 3rd October 2012.

Leila Silva worked then at the Order of Musicians at their Santos off-shoot. 

Luiz Amorim with Leila Silva, his favourite female singer. 

I couldn't believe I was taking a photo with Leila Silva... 

Thais Matarazzo took this shot... 

a double Leila is better than one Leila...

One Afternoon at São Paulo's Musician's Guild aka Ordem dos Músicos 

At Ordem dos Músicos in São Paulo waiting for the show to begin... Antonio Aguilar, sitting by himself on the left, Carlus Maximus and Pedro da Lana chat away on the right. Denise Duran is seen standing in the background talking to a lady. 

Everyone either looking at their cell-phones or cameras... Beto Abrantes sitting on the 3rd row on the right. Cinderela (with dark glasses) looks at her cell phone on the 1st row on the left. Antonio Aguillar sits next to Denise Duran and Carlus Maximus on the 2nd row. 

Antonio Aguilar, Marmo, Denise Duran, Beto Abrantes & Pedro da Lana...

Cinderela née Luiza Trevisan wipes tears from her eyes while watching Silvana sing...

Silvana who still had a powerful voice wows the audience...while Claudevan Melo clicks away. 

Carlus Maximus & Pedro Dalana... 

At Ordem dos Músicos in São Paulo waiting for the show to begin...Antonio Aguilar, Carlus Maximus and Pedro da Lana... 

Everyone either looking at their cell-phones or cameras... Sr. Marmo holds a mike on the first row. 

Antonio Aguilar, Marmo, Denise Duran, Beto Abrantes & Pedro da Lana...

Cinderela née Luiza Trevisan wipes tears from her eyes while watches Silvana singing...

Carlus Maximus & Pedro Dalana...