Caymmi, Dorival

▪ 2009

      Brazilian singer and songwriter

born April 30, 1914, Salvador, Bahia state, Braz.

died Aug. 16, 2008, Rio de Janeiro, Braz.

became a national icon with his deep velvety voice and romantic lyrics that evoked the charm of Bahia's fishing villages, beaches, and beautiful women. Caymmi vaulted to fame when his song “O que é que a Baiana tem?” became a hit in 1938 for Brazilian bombshell Carmen Miranda, whom Caymmi instructed to move her arms and hands to the beat of the music—movement that became her trademark. Caymmi, who contributed more than 100 tunes to his country's songbook, notably “O samba da minha terra,” “Marina,” and “Das rosas,” performed as a regular on Rádio Nacional and released some 20 albums. He was awarded France's Order of Arts and Letters in 1984.

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