Tonico & Tinoco
Tonico e Tinoco | |
|---|---|
| Born | João Salvador Perez (Tonico), José Perez (Tinoco) Template:Birth date (Tonico), Template:Birth date (Tinoco) São Paulo, Brazil |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day (Tonico), Error: Need valid birth date (second date): year, month, day (Tinoco) São Paulo, Brazil (Tinoco) |
| Occupation | Musicians |
| Years active | 1935–1994 |
| Known for | Música sertaneja duo |
Tonico e Tinoco formed a renowned Brazilian música sertaneja duo hailing from São Paulo, consisting of brothers Tonico (João Salvador Perez, 1917–1994) and Tinoco (José Perez, 1920–2012). They rank among the most celebrated and productive artists in the sertanejo genre. Their 1946 hit "Chico Mineiro" earned them the title "A Dupla Coração do Brasil" ("The Brazilian Heart Duo"). Throughout their career spanning from 1935 to 1994, they delivered over 40,000 performances, recorded in excess of 1,000 tracks, and sold upwards of 150 million records, all while performing exclusively within Brazil.
Early life and musical beginnings
The brothers were born in the countryside of São Paulo to Salvador Pérez, a Spaniard, and Maria do Carmo, a Brazilian. Their enthusiasm for music was inspired by their maternal grandparents, Olegario and Isabel, who played an antique accordion. Their initial public appearance occurred on August 15, 1935, when they performed with their cousin Miguel as Trio da Roça, gaining local fame through radio broadcasts.
In 1937, the Pérez family relocated to Sorocaba, São Paulo. During Brazil’s economic downturn and World War II, Tonico found employment at a quarry and cement factory, while Tinoco worked shining shoes and on highway construction projects. Struggling with urban life, they returned to rural farming. As a duo, they expanded their reach by performing on radio programs and traveling between rural and urban settings throughout São Paulo state, appearing at street events, festivals, contests, and radio stations.
Their first recording came in 1945 under the Continental label with the cateretê "Em Vez de Me Agradecê" ("Instead of Thanking Me"). The intensity of their singing during the session was so strong that it damaged the microphone. The following year’s hit "Chico Mineiro" catapulted them to prominence as Brazil’s foremost sertanejo duo and allowed them to purchase a family residence.
Later success
Tonico and Tinoco made their film debut in Eduardo Llorente’s 1961 movie Lá no Meu Sertão, which portrayed their lives. During filming, Tonico suffered a near-fatal bout of tuberculosis, prompting his brother Chiquinho to temporarily take his place for radio performances and studio recordings. Despite initial doubts about Tonico’s recovery, the pair soon returned to full-time performing.
In 1965, Llorente cast them again in Obrigado à Matar, a film inspired by the Chico Mineiro legend and their popular song. Nelson Teixeira Mendes directed another feature starring them titled A Marca da Ferradura in 1969. In 1970, they released a tribute album honoring Raul Torres shortly after his passing. Following two less successful films—Llorente’s Os Três Justiceiros and Osvaldo de Oliveira’s Luar do Sertão—the brothers stopped acting to concentrate solely on their musical career.
On June 6, 1979, Tonico & Tinoco performed a notable three-hour concert before an audience of 2,500 at São Paulo’s Municipal Theatre, a venue traditionally dedicated to opera and ballet performances. They later made a brief appearance in Andrew Klotzel’s 1984 film A Marvada Carne.
Deaths
The duo’s final live performance took place on August 7, 1994, in Mato Grosso; Tonico passed away shortly thereafter. Tinoco continued his career as a solo artist until he died on May 4, 2012, in São Paulo due to complications related to respiratory failure at age 91.
Studio albums
- 1958: Suas Modas Sertanejas
- 1959: Na Beira da Tuia
- 1960: A Dupla Coração do Brasil
- 1961: A Saudade Vai
- 1962: La no Meu Sertão
- 1963: Cantando para o Brasil
- 1965: Data Feliz
- 1966: Artista de Circo
- 1966: Rancho de Palha
- 1969: Rei dos Pampas
- 1971: A Marca da Ferradura
- 1971: Laço de Amizade
- 1994: Coração do Brasil
Compilation albums
- 1968: As 12 Mais de Tonico e Tinoco
- 1983: Os Grandes Sucessos de Tonico e Tinoco
Singles
- Moreninha Linda
- Chico Mineiro
- O Gondoleiro do Amor
- Saudades de Ouro Preto
- Saudades do Matão
- Tristeza do Jeca
- Me Leva
- Ferreirinha
- Boiada Cuiabana
- Velho Pai
- Vingança de Soldado
- Mourão da Porteira
- Beijinho Doce
- As Três Cuiabanas
- Artista de Circo
- Faz um Ano "Hace um Año"
- Adeus Mariana
- O Caipira é Vosso Amigo
- Falsidade
- Rei dos Pampas
- Paraguaia
- Enquanto a Estrela Brilhar
- Luar do Sertão
- Chuá, Chuá
- Couro de Boi
- Maringá
- A Moda da Mula Preta
- Que Linda Morena
- Chico Mulato
- Mineirinha
- Pingo d´Água
- Segredo se Guarda
- Feijão Queimado
- Estrada da Vida
- Boiadeiro Apaixonado
- João Carreiro
- Cavalo Zaino
- Ciriema
- Baile em Ponta Porã
- Cavalo Preto
- Cidade Morena
- Orgulhosa
- Chalana
- Adeus Campina da Serra
- Moça Folgazona
- Azul Cor de Anil
- Rei do Volante
- Minas Gerais
- Boiadeiro Punho de Aço
- João de Barro
- Oi Vida Minha! (Moda do Peão)
- O Menino da Porteira
- Saudade que eu Tenho
- Boi Amarelinho
- As Flores
- Boa Noite Amor
- Mandamento do Motorista
- Pingo Preto
- Porquê
- Paineira Velha
- Lembranças
- Cavalo Branco
- Retalhos de Amor
- A Viagem do Tietê
- Lenda da Valsa dos Noivos
- Três Batidas na Porteira
- Praia Serena
- Motorista do Progresso
- Sorte Tirana
- Distante de Ti
- Adeus Gaúcha
- Filho de Mato Grosso
- Último Adeus
- Carreiro Sebastião
- Ranchinho de Taquara
- Saudades de Araraquara
- Teu Nome Tem Sete Letras
- Bombardeio
- Duas Cartas
...
Discography in 78 RPM
... (Note: Entries 14 to 83 follow the same format and are omitted here for brevity) ... 84 Saudade Vai Carta de Caboclo Caboclo CS - 651 feb/64| No. | Side "A" | Side "B" | Label | Disk No. | Recording Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Em vez de me agradecer | Continental | 15.385 | jul/45 | |
| 2 | Tudo tem no sertão | Porto Esperança | Continental | 15.417 | sep/45 |
| 3 | Sertão do Laranjinha | Percorrendo meu Brasil | Continental | 15.418 | sep/45 |
| 4 | Cuiabano | Moreninha | Continental | 15.447 | oct/45 |
| 5 | Destino de Caboclo | Ai, meu bem | Continental | 15.655 | jun/46 |
| 6 | Cortando Estradão | Chico Mineiro | Continental | 15.681 | aug/46 |
| 7 | Pião Vaqueiro | Adeus, Morena Adeus | Continental | 15.706 | sep/46 |
| 8 | A Cruz do Caminho | Tristeza do Jeca | Continental | 15.795 | jul/47 |
| 9 | Boiadeiro Entrevado | Que Lucro dá! | Continental | 15.796 | jul/47 |
| 10 | Você Sabe onde Moro | Destinos Iguais | Continental | 15.819 | aug/47 |
| 11 | Vingança do Chico Mineiro | Goiana | Continental | 15.913 | sep/48 |
| 12 | Desprezado | Rancho Vazio | Continental | 16.026 | apr/49 |
| 13 | Besta Ruana | Adeus Rio Grande | Continental | 16.092 | max/49 |