Jacob Pick Bittencourt, who performed under the stage name Jacob do Bandolim, was a Brazilian mandolinist and composer who was born in 1918 in Rio de Janeiro. He was a central figure in the choro genre and was famous for a perfectionist approach to his musical groups. He began his musical studies at age 12 with the violin but eventually transitioned to the mandolin after finding the violin bow difficult to master. He was an autodidact who learned by ear and practiced by repeating segments of music he heard in his home and on the streets. Bittencourt made his amateur debut on the radio in 1933 and won a professional radio contest the following year, which led to him accompanying major artists including Noel Rosa, Carlos Galhardo, and Ataulfo Alves. His recording career included the release of the songs “Treme-Treme” (1947), “Flamengo” (1948), and “Doce de Coco” (1951). Bittencourt was famous for his compositions such as “Noites Cariocas”, “Vibrações”, “Assanhado”, and “Receita de Samba”. In the early 1960s, he formed the ensemble Época de Ouro, and they remain active in the music industry. He was also a researcher of the choro tradition and sought to preserve historical Brazilian musical styles. Bittencourt died in 1969.
