About Ary Barroso

Ary Barroso (born November 7 1903 in Ubá, Minas Gerais and died February 9 1964 in Rio de Janeiro) was a Brazilian composer. One of his best known compositions is Aquarela do Brasil. His piece Na Baixa Do Sapateiro was featured in the Disney film The Three Caballeros and has been covered by groups such as The Bambi Molesters. Ary Barroso was the most influential pre-bossa nova composer in Brazil. Barroso's songs were recorded by a lengthy list of artists including Carmen Miranda and Joao Gilberto. His 1939 composition, "Aquarela Do Brazil," better known as "Brazil," was featured in the 1942 Disney film Saludos Amigos, and has gone on to become one of the 20 most recorded songs of all time. His song, "No Baixa De Sapateiro," based on a Brazilian pop tune, was included in the Disney film The Three Caballeros and popularized as "Baia." Barroso's soundtrack for the movie Rio de Janeiro was nominated for an Oscar in 1944. Although he failed to win the Oscar, Barroso was presented a Merit Award from the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences for his work. In 1955, Barroso received the National Order Of Merit, the greatest honor bestowed by the Brazilian government. Music was only one outlet for Barroso's creativity. A lawyer by training, he balanced his musical career with work as a radio announcer, writer, humorist, reporter, producer, emcee, interviewer and soccer commentator. He was such a fan of the Flamengo soccer club of Rio de Janeiro that he turned down an invitation to move to the United States at the peak of his fame in the 1940s because he didn't want to be so far from the team. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Song in 1944 for "Rio de Janeiro", as featured in the 1944 film, Brazil. He died of liver cirrhosis in 1964.