Sunday 24 September 2017

ANTONIO AGUILLAR, rock promoter 1962 - 1963 - 1964

Radio-man Antonio Aguillar was the closest Sao Paulo rock got to New York's rock pioneer Alan Freed

Maybe it's going a bit too far to compare him with such a luminary as Alan Freed who actually came up with the name Rock'n'roll whereas Aguillar came up with nothing really original. 

Aguillar started his professional life working as photographer at daily 'O Estado de S.Paulo'. 

In late 1956, when he was covering the vandalism perpetrated against the seats of Cine Paulista during the screening of 'Rock around the clock' (Ao balanço das horas) Aguillar was impressed by the sheer energy released in teenagers by a simple rock movie and thought seriously about entering this brave new world where he suspected there was money, excitement and glory.

By late 1960, Aguillar left his job at 'Estadão' for O.V.C. (Organização Victor Costa) to organize what would become the audio-visual department of Radio Nacional and TV Paulista, Channel 5

At the same time Aguillar was given the command of 'Clube dos Garotos', a kid's show at Radio Nacional. 

By November 1961, Aguillar presented 'Ritmos para a juventude' (Rhythms for the young-set) from 4:00 to 5:00 pm from Monday through Friday; on Saturdays from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. 

By mid-1962 Aguillar's rock show was the hottest stuff in São Paulo. He not only played discs but urged amateur young rock bands around town to play live on his Saturday radio-show. 

These sessions grew up in number and popularity until TV Paulista started broadcasting it at Channel 5. 

Soon, TV Excelsior signed Aguillar to take his rock show to the station that had become the most popular in the country. 
Radiolandia #367, 1st January 1962 - 'Ritmos para a Juventude' was #1 with teenagers in São Paulo.
'Cinelândia' no.233, 1962
Radiolandia #373, 15 March 1962.

By March 1962, Aguillar and his 'Ritmos para a Juventude' at Radio Nacional Paulista had become so popular he made a splash organizing a big celebration at Club Atletico Silvicultura at far-away Horto Florestal.  The only way to reach the country-club was through the railway Estrada de Ferro Cantareira but that didn't prevent a small crowd of 2,500 people of reaching the place to see their favourite singers and performers. As not all the performers were rock'n'rollers Aguillar adapted the name of the party to 'Festival de Todos os Ritmos' (All rhythms festival) and presented each participant with a 'Ritmos para a Juventude' trophy.

Celly Campello - best rock female singer
Hamilton di Giorgio - best international song-writer & singer
Ronnie Cord - best rock male singer
Maria Regina - the smallest singer in the world
Sergio Murilo - international revelation
Sergio Reis - 'Será' (Chantecler)
The Jet Blacks - best instrumental rock band
The Jordans - revelation instrumental rock band
Carlos Gonzaga - 'O twist' (The twist) (RCA)
Carlos Ely - 'Cinderela' (RCA Camden)
Wilson Miranda (Chantecler) as TV revelation
Bobby de Carlo - 'Hey, Lili' (Lilly Lou) (Odeon)
Tony Campello - Querida Susie' (Susie darling) (Odeon)
Fernando Costa - 'Amor em cha cha cha' (Columbia)
George Freedman - 'Adivinhão' (RGE)
Mario Augusto - 'Amor de Terezinha' (Copacabana)
Baby Santiago - for penning 'Rock do sacy' & 'Adivinhão'
Ilze Aparecida (future Cidinha Santos) - 'Brotinho do rock' (California)
Cidinha - '24 mil desejos' (24 mila baci) (Mocambo)

non-rock acts invited to the great bash:

Leila Silva - best TV female singer
Franquito - music & films revelation 
Martha Mendonça - 'Tu sabes' (Chantecler)
Miltinho - best Brazilian music male singer
Creusa Cunha - 'Lembrança' (Un recuerdo) (Copacabana)
Archimedes Messina for his work as a radio man and singer
Silvana - 'Amor, fonte da vida' (Copacabana)
Carlos Nobre - 'Amor em serenata' (RCA)
Nerino Silva - 'Minha sogra' (Chantecler)
Agnaldo Rayol for 'Não pode ser' (Copacabana)
Roberto Vidal - 'Maria Helena' (RCA Camden)
Fernando José - 'Diner' (RGE) 
Renato Guimarães - 'Poema' (Chantecler)
Nilton Cesar - for a Carnaval hit  
Wilson Roberto - for a Carnaval hit
Radiolandia #379, 1st June 1962.
Radiolandia #379 - 1st June 1962.

'Radiolandia' #382 - 1st August 1962.
Radiolandia #385 - 15 September 1962; 'Ritmos para a Juventude' crosssed over to TV Paulista, channel 5. 
15 September 1962; Neil Sedaka is honoured at 'Ritmos para a Juventude' on Channel 5. 
Radiolandia #387 - 1st October 1962; Theotonio Pavão says 'Ritmos para a juventude' turned 1 year old on 30 September 1962, and had a bash at Cine Piratininga, one of the largest in town. 
Radiolandia #396, 1st March 1963 - Theotonio Pavão tells all about Aguillar's big event at Lapa's Cine Nacional on 17 February 1963.
Antonio Aguilar weds Marly Bucci at the Catholic church Santo Antonio do Pary on 27 July 1963.
columnist Theotonio Pavão at Radiolandia, 1st August 1963.

DJ Carlos Alberto Lopes left Radio America (Estudio V) to Radio Record.
Radiolandia, 1st October 1963; more than 3,000 people swarmed at the doors of Channel 9 on Rua Nestor Pestana to see Antonio Aguillar rock-show. 

Antonio Aguillar TV rock-show at TV Excelsior on Tuesdays & Fridays from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm; on Sundays 'Festival de Gala da Juventude' from 6:00 to 7:00 pm.
Radiolandia, 1st October 1963. Albert Pavão accompanied by The Clevers, disguised as Chinese peasants at Antonio Aguillar rock-show on TV Excelsior, Channel 9.
a young Antonio Aguillar working as a photographer for 'O Estado de S.Paulo'; Radiolandia #345, 1st February 1961 says Aguillar had just been signed by Organização Victor Costa to organize their audio-visual department. 
Ademar Dutra took over Aguillar's place at TV Paulista, Channel 5, when the latter was signed by TV Excelsior, Channel 9 - Radiolandia, 1st October 1963. Ademarzinho as he was known presents Elvis Presley's 'Louras, morenas e ruivas' sound-track album of 'It happened at the World's Fair' released in the USA on 3rd April 1963
Ademarzinho Dutra presents 'Clubinho das 5' at TV Paulista, channel 5 - 15 October 1963.
'Radiolândia' no.410, 1963. 

1962 & 1963

1962 e 1963 foram anos de transição e consolidação do rock'n'roll como maneira de expressão da juventude brasileira, principalmente com o surgimento de novíssimos conjuntos instrumentais a começar por The Jet BlacksThe Jordans e The Clevers

Ao mesmo tempo, o bolero, as versões de músicas estrangeiras e até o tango ainda imperavam na Parada de Sucesso. 

TV Excelsior, inaugurada em 1960, se consolidava como a mais popular do país... uma verdadeira revolução nos meios de comunicação. Vivíamos tempos de mudança no vídeo.

revista Melodias sobre os maiorais recebendo os troféus do programa do Antonio Aguillar, no Cine Nacional, na Lapa.
'Quanto Setembro vier' (Come September) fazia sucesso entre os adolescentes...
Tommy Standen gravou 'Regina' de Serafim da Costa Almeida para a gravadora Albatróz - 'Diário da Noite', 2 Outubro 1963.
By  May 1964, Aguillar was 'poached' by TV Record to do his rock-show at Teatro Record that was something akin to Paris Olympia in the 50s & 60s. This was his 1st Saturday rock show at Teatro Record which would be recorded on video-tape and shown on Sunday at 1:00 pm. 
Antonio Aguilar who had always been his own man at TV Paulista and TV Excelsior had to swallow Eliana Pittman as a co-presenter who was imposed by the TV management. Fred Jorge at Aguilar's right was the programme producer. Folk dancer and singer Orlando Alvarado wears a white suit and The Vikings brothers are on the extreme right. 
Eliana Pittman, Marcos Roberto disguised as Napoleon and Antonio Aguilar at 'Reino da Juventude' first broadcast. 
Ronnie Cord was at the peak of his popularity in May 1964. He'd started in late 1960 covering Bryan Hyland's 'Itsy bitsy teenie mini yellow polka-dot bikini' and then in early 1964 he went #1 again with 'Rua Augusta' to be followed later by another cover of 'Itsy bitsy...' this time sung in Portuguese 'Biquini de bolinha amarelinha'... Little did Ronnie know he would lose his crown and scepter as the Brazilian King of Rock'n'roll to Roberto Carlos in another 18 months. 
# 85, August 1964 - monthly magazine 'Melodias' published more photos of Antonio Aguilar's 'Reino da Juventude' 1st programme at TV Record, Channel 7. It took 3 months for this article to be published at 'Melodias'... 
Roberto Carlos is welcomed by Antonio Aguilar at his 'Reino da Juventude' at Teatro Record in May 1964. The Clevers' Risonho (lead-guitar), Netinho on drums & Mingo (rhythm-guitar) are seen in the background. Little did Roberto Carlos know he would become a big star on this very stage in 18 months.
Aguilar leads Rita Pavone by the hand while she sings 'Datemi un martello' accompanied by The Clevers at his Saturday-afternoon TV show 'Reino da Juventude' on TV Record, Channel 7, on 20 June 1964. Rita actually broke her written contratct that forbade her to sing anywhere else but her own recitals on Teatro Record.

VS an independent label

RGE - Radio Gravações Elétricas - a recording studio that produced and distributed commercial jingles to radio stations all over Brazil became an independent label in 1956. Following RGE's example, VS - Som Industrial Vilela Santos Ltda. opened shop in mid 1963. Radio man Ataliba Santos was its boss; Guido Bianchi its production manager and Rogerio Duprat its artistic director. 

Nelson Luiz sings 'Só na solidão' b/w 'Amanhã quero ser mais feliz', VS's first release. 
Radiolandia, 15 September 1963, columnist Theotônio Pavão. 
Radiolandia, 1st October 1963; Theotonio introduces The Hits, a rock band. 


Thursday 21 September 2017

Johnny Talon, a US meteor rocks on Brazilian skies...

Radiolandia presents Johnny Talon to its readers in August 1963. Johnny traveled from his native USA to Brazil and stayed in Rio de Janeiro for a while. 

He then moved up to Sao Paulo where he used to be invited to appear as special guest on rock shows on TV - having recorded an E.P. for RGE, a local label.