Luiz Americano
Luiz Americano (27 February 1900 – 29 March 1960) was a Brazilian choro musician and composer. He was best known as a clarinetist, saxophonist and recording artiste. Early life. Luiz Americano (also known as Luís Americano, Luiz Americano Rego and Luiz Americano do Rego) was born on 27 February 1900 in Aracaju where his father, Jorge Americano, was a band master. He began studying music with his father when he was 13. In 1918 he joined a military band in the army in his home town. He was transferred to Maceió and then Rio de Janeiro. Musical career. After  leaving the army in 1922 he joined several orchestras to perform, compose and record popular music, especially in the choro genre, as well as popularising the saxophone. He worked with Justo Nieto, Raul Lipoff, Simon Bountman and Romeu Silva. His first recording was in 1927, playing saxophone in his own compositions of a waltz "Leda" and choro "Sentimento". He spent a short time in Argentina from 1928 until 1930. This included being a member of Adolfo Carabelli's orchestra as well as Gordon Stretton's touring group for three months in 1928. The peak of his career was in the  1930s and 1940s being successful as both composer and soloist especially in the choro genre. His choro compositions from 1932 onwards, such as "É do Que há" established his reputation. He was in demand as a session saxophonist and clarinetist as well as being a member of longer-lasting groups. He is featured in recordings on the Odeon and several other labels. In 1932 he joined Pixinguinha and Donga in the Velha Guarda group. He also performed with Bonfiglio de Oliveira. In 1937 he joined the Trio Carioca with pianist Radamés Gnattali and Luciano Perrone on drums. In 1940 he  was among those selected by Pixinguinha to contribute to a Leopold Stokowski's recording to depict Latin America. He also recorded with several singers of the time, including Carmen Miranda and Nélson Gonçalves. He was a studio musician for Rádio Mayrink Veiga (1930-1950) and Rádio Nacional (1950-1960). He continued to perform and record throughout his life. In the 1940s he recorded on the RCA Victor label and on the Todamérica label in 1953. He released his final album, "Por que choras, saxofone?" ("Why do you cry, saxophone?") in the in the final six months of his life when  he was unwell. He died in the Brás de Pina district of Rio de Janeiro, 29 March 1960. His compositions continue to be released in new formats as well as recorded by others. The album "Luiz Americano - Saxofone, why do you cry?" was released on CD in 2001 by Intercdrecords where artistes including Érica Rego and the Orlando Brothers performed his compositions. Published songs and recordings. Americano's most famous works are the choros "É do que há" and "Numa Seresta" and the waltz "Lágrimas de virgem". His published compositions and songs include: Recordings. Americano's recordings include: Leda/Sentimento  (1927) Odeon 78