  dorival caymmi (april 30, 1914 &ndash; august 16, 2008) was a brazilian singer, songwriter, actor, and painter active for more than 70 years beginning in 1933. he contributed to the birth of brazil's bossa nova movement, and several of his samba pieces, such as "samba da minha terra", "doralice" and "saudade da bahia", have become staples of mÃºsica popular brasileira. equally notable are his ballads celebrating the fishermen and women of bahia, including "promessa de pescador", "o que Ã que a baiana tem?", and "milagre". caymmi composed about 100 songs in his lifetime, and many of his works are now considered to be brazilian classics. both brazilian and non-brazilian musicians have covered his songs. ben ratliff of the new york times wrote that caymmi was "perhaps second only to antÃ´nio carlos jobim in 'establishing a songbook of [the 20th] centuryâs brazilian identity.'"martin, douglas (august 19, 2008). "dorival caymmi, singer of brazil, is dead at 94". the new york times (arthur ochs sulzberger, jr.). . retrieved august 16, 2011. throughout his career, his music about the people and culture of bahia influenced brazil's image in the eyes of both brazilians and foreigners. caymmi was married to brazilian singer stella maris for 68 years, and the couple's children, dori caymmi, danilo caymmi, and nana caymmi, are also prominent musicians. each debuted professionally by accompanying their father onstage and in recordings. ==early life== caymmi was born in [[salvador, bahi
1914_births 2008_deaths Bossa_nova_singers Brazilian_male_singers Brazilian_painters Brazilian_people_of_Italian_descent Cancer_deaths_in_Brazil Deaths_from_kidney_cancer Deaths_from_multiple_organ_failure People_from_Salvador,_Bahia Samba_musicians