Cuma É o Nome Dele?

Manezinho Araújo

1974

Why This Album Matters

Manezinho Araújo was a singular figure in the Brazilian artistic landscape, distinguishing himself not only as a singer and composer, but also as a journalist and painter. Known as the "Rei da Embolada", he established himself as one of the great disseminators and interpreters of this vibrant musical genre, with deep roots in the popular culture of the Northeast. The work Cuma É o Nome Dele?, dated 1956 and self-penned, fits into the repertoire of an artist who dedicated a large part of his career to recording and popularising regional sounds. His music is a reflection of his journey and the rich cultural tapestry he helped weave in Brazil.

Context

Manezinho Araújo's musical journey began in Recife, where he learnt the art of embolada from Minona Carneiro. After joining the army and participating in the 1930 Military Coup, he settled in Rio de Janeiro, then the nation's capital. There, to secure his livelihood, he began performing in cabarets, which led him to a career in radio. It was at Rádio Mayrink Veiga that Manezinho Araújo established himself, singing regularly and touring the country, which earned him the nickname "Rei da Embolada". From the 1930s to the 1950s, he recorded a prolific fifty 78 rpm records and four LPs for renowned record labels such as Odeon Records, consolidating his presence in Brazilian popular music.

Songs

The title track, "Cuma é o nome dele?", composed by Manezinho Araújo himself in 1956, is one of the highlights of his extensive discography. The song exemplifies the artist's mastery of the embolada genre, a central characteristic of his musical identity and for which he became known as the "Rei da Embolada".

Rankings

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Books

MPB - Compositores Pernambucanos

Renato Phaelante · 2015

Esta obra lista, em ordem alfabética e sem discriminar gêneros, 200 personalidades que fizeram do cenário musical pernambucano um dos mais fascinantes e ecléticos do país, traçando suas respectivas vida e trajetória artística. Manezinho Araújo, sendo um importante compositor pernambucano, certamente teria um verbete detalhado, o que o torna relevante para o estudo de sua obra.