Mario Augusto does the twist with a neighbourhood kid...
Mario Augusto Santos was a Black youth from Jundiaí-SP who liked to sing since he was a child. He worked as an office boy at a local bank and his parents would love to see him graduate from school and become an accountant. But Mario wanted to become a professional singer so he up took a train to São Paulo and started doing the radio stations round. After singing at gong-shows he finally landed a contract with Radio America.
Soon Mario was led by the capable hands of Denis Brean and Lupe Ferreira who took him to Odeon where he recorded his first single. He was lucky when he covered Roy Orbison's 'Claudette' which actually charted well. Mario was signed by Radio Tupi, being one of the attractions on Julio Rosemberg's show.
In 1960, Mario moved over to Copacabana Records and had a mild hit with "Adão e Eva' which he translated from Paul Anka's 'Adam and Eve' but had to compete with Carlos Gonzaga's Fred Jorge translation of the same tune. Mario was signed by Radio & TV Record appearing at Cesar de Alencar's 'Cast dos Novos' and charted well during 1961 Carnaval with 'Desfolhei a Margarida'.
Mario Augusto's big break came with 'O amor de Terezinha' a C&W-tinged fox-trot penned by himself Oiram Santos (Mario spelt backwards) and Rubinho. The single was released in October 1961 and played a lot on the radio.
With the twist-craze at full throttle in mid-1962, Mario Augusto recorded Baby Santiago's 'O twist é bom' which did excellent business too.
Mario Augusto, DJ Lupe Ferreira, Caco Velho & DJ Alfredo Gramanne in 1958; Radiolandia 242
Mario Augusto at Radiolandia, November 1960.
Mario Augusto at Revista do Radio while 'O amor de Terezinha' was #1 in 1962; on the right Mario in 1961 when he toured Uruguay.
Mario Augusto sings & swings at a Carnaval ball.
Radiolandia #310, February 1960; Mario Augusto was signed by Radio Record for some time and took part in programmes like 'Alegria dos bairros' presented by Geraldo Blota. This particular one was at the height of 1960 Carnaval festivities.
sheet music for 'Plantei amor' a samba recorded by Mario Augusto in 1961.
Mario Augusto talks to Radiolandia's journalist Arnaldo Câmara Leitão about his stint at Uruguay's resort town of Punta del Este in the first 20 days of February 1961. Mario was the next Brazilian attraction after a successful stint by Maysa at Vogue, the night-club of posh Casino San Raphael which sessions were all broadcast live by CX-22, Radio Universal de Montevideo. Mario Augusto says he was really glad when he realized Brazilian music was really popular in Uruguay.
'I had already heard people saying Brazilian music was really popular in Uruguay but it was a surprise to realize Uruguayans play more Brazilian music on their radio than over here. That's the sad truth. Agostinho dos Santos, João Gilberto, Elza Laranjeira and Maysa are the most popular Brazilian acts there now. Trio Pagão's Gaguinho, Lozá & Benê are kings there. Salomé Parisio is queen. The most popular song at the moment is Dolores Duran's 'A noite do meu bem' sung by Elza Laranjeira'.
Radiolandia #352, March 1961; Mario Augusto, Uruguayan crooner Mario Ponce de Leon & Brazilian enfant-terrible João Gilberto in Punta del Este, Uruguay.
Revista do Radio hails the new faces of 1960: Celly Campello, George Freedman, Agnaldo Rayol, Ronnie Cord, Franquito, Mario Augusto, Bobby de Carlo e Roberto Vidal.
Before getting into show business, Mario Augusto dos Santos used to be an accountant. He was born in Jundiaí-SP and became a singer through competing in gong-shows.
By early 1962, Mario August had a whole album released called 'Conflitos emocionais'; by May 1962, Mario Augusto hit with 'O twist é bom'.
E.P. 3326 containing 'O amor de Terezinha', Mario Augusto's greatest hit plus 'Cidinha', 'Sempre no meu coração' and 'Julia'.
E.P. made in Portugal: 'O amor de Teresinha' / 'Viajando com meu amor' (Wheels) / 'Conflitos emocionais' / 'Porque'.
EP 3425 released in early 1964 shows Mario Augusto turned his attention to the music made in Italy which was the flavour of the moment: Mario sat down and translated 'Stessa spiaggia, stesso mare' (Quando chegar o verão) made popular by Mina in 1963 but also recorded by Piero Focaccia for CGD.
2 years later in 1966 Mario rode on the French music invasion with (544) 'Vai ser bom', a cover of Richard Anthony's 'Ça serait beau' which gave a boost to a sagging career. Mario was accompanied by The Jordans.
In 1968 (730) Mario records 'Cala meu amor' written by Osmar Navarro b/w 'Botãozinho de rosa'.
by 1973, Mario Augusto had left Copacabana Discos and recorded 'É amor' (Mario Augusto-Marco Antonio) b/w 'Vem comigo' (Luis Eduardo-Célio Sanches) for Fermata under a new numbering system: 301.1050.
Torero / Eu sou culpado - Odeon (1958)
Não sei / Claudette - Odeon (1958)
Eu sem você / Trem do amor - Odeon (1959)
Piove / Il sono, il vento - Odeon (1959)
Canção do hula-pula / Grande amor (Mario Vieira-Armando Castro) - Odeon (1959)
Adão e Eva (Adam and Eve) Paul Anka; v.:Oiram Santos) / Sou de pouca fala - Copa (1960)
Dia triste (Don Gibson; v.: Oiram Santos) / Nana nenê (Oiram Santos-Marlo) Copacabana (1960)
Tenha pena de mim / Desfolhei a margarida - Copacabana (1961 Carnaval)
História de amor / Pedra no caminho - Copacabana (1961)
O amor de Terezinha (Rubinho-Oiram S.) / Viajando com meu amor (Wheels) Norman Petty (1961)
Calcutá (Culcutta) Heino Gaze- v.: Romeu Nunes / Plantei amor - Copacabana (1961)
Sempre no meu coração (Lecuona; v.:Mario Mendes) / Porque (calypso de Rubinho-Paulo Valério) (1961)
Cidinha / Andeio - Copacabana (1962)
O twist é bom (Baby Santiago- ) / Tu me desprezas - Copacabana (1962)
Conflitos emocionais / É você quem pensa - Copacabana (1963)
Caraboo / Vendaval do amor - Copacabana (1963)
Adão sem Eva (Oiram Santos-Jose Saccomani) / O cravo e a rosa - 1963 Carnaval
Tô gamado (Oiram S.-J.Saccomani) / Pedrinha de gelo (Oiram S.-Ézio Augusto) - Copa (1964)
'Sou de pouca fala' (I don't talk too much) was the flip-side of 'Adão e Eva', Mario Augusto's own translation of Paul Anka's 'Adam and Eve'.
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