“MIL TIPOS DIFERENTES DE MÚSICAS”: A TRAJETÓRIA PROFISSIONAL DE WALTEL BRANCO (1963-1985)

Abstract

The History of Brazilian Popular Music, known as MPB, is made up of many characters who contributed to this vast journey. One such character is the musician Waltel Branco. Born on November 22, 1929, in the city of Paranaguá (PR), with a classical and erudite background, the musician from Paraná holds a plural musicality, and has a professional career marked by contributions in expressive and widely circulated songs within the industry of the Brazilian music, working with artists of which stand out: João Gilberto, Elis Regina, Dorival Caymmi, Tim Maia, Alceu Valença, Odair José, among many others. His path is also marked by soundtracks in telenovelas and Globo TV programs, such as: Irmãos Coragem, Assim na terra como no céu, Selva de Pedra, O Bem-Amado, Escrava Isaura, Roque Santeiro, Vila Sésamo e Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo. Different musical experiences influenced the work of the musician from Paraná to the Brazilian musical scene, a mixture of rhythms, genres and musical styles. With an immense contribution to MPB, the present work has the objective to map professional trajectory, the works and the contributions of the conductor Waltel Branco, through notes of newspapers, technical fiches of discs and programs of Rede Globo, besides records of phonograms between 1963 and 1985, with the launching of the world-known soundtrack of The Pink Panther with Henry Mancini and the original telenovela Roque Santeiro of TV Globo, projects in which Waltel contributed musically.