Waldir Azevedo

Waldir Azevedo, born in 1923, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was a musician and composer known for his contributions to the Choro genre. He began playing instruments at age seven, starting with the flute before transitioning to the cavaquinho and guitar. His breakthrough came during the 1933 Carnival when he won first prize on Radio Guanabara's Talentos Ok program. Azevedo joined Dilermando Reis' ensemble at Rádio Clube do Brasil in 1945, eventually taking over as director. Elevating the cavaquinho, he transitioned its use from an accompaniment instrument in the orchestra to a solo instrument. His composition “Brasileirinho” (1949) became a classic in Brazilian popular music and sold over a million copies. Azevedo passed away in 1980, in São Paulo.