Custódio Mesquita – Brazilliance

Rosa de Maio was introduced in 1944 by Carlos Galhardo, recorded with the orchestra of Custódio Mesquita. This fox, a dance rhythm that was in high demand in Brazil during the early forties, was one of the last hits by composer Custódio Mesquita, who died of a liver illness the following year at the age of 34. Carlos Galhardo re-recorded the song in 1958 on his compilation album Salão Grenat.

The song is one of the best known compositions from the collaboration of Mesquita and Ruy, and Carlos Galhardo scored one of the top hits of 1944 with it. However, the song was not picked up until 1953 when Orlando Silva included Rosa de Maio on his album dedicated to the songs of Custódio Mesquita, arranged by Léo Peracchi.

Probably the only uptempo rendition of Rosa de Maio was performed by Mara Silva in 1962 on her sole album Sucessos em Teleco-Teco. Besides, Mara Silva and Zezé Gonzaga were obviously the only female vocalists who recorded the song.

Rosa de Maio - Carlos Galhardo (1944)

Rosa de Maio - Orlando Silva (1953)

Rosa de Maio - Carlos Galhardo (1958)

Rosa de Maio - Pernambuco (1960)

Rosa de Maio - Mara Silva (1962)

Rosa de Maio - Del Norman aka Luiz Lopes (1962)

Rosa de Maio - Orquestra Violinos de Ouro (1962)

Rosa de Maio - Sílvio Caldas (1965)

Selected recordings of Rosa de Maio:

1. Carlos Galhardo from the single Rosa de Maio b/w Gira Gira Gira (1944, Victor 80-0175-a)

2. Orlando Silva from the album Orlando Silva Canta Músicas de Custódio Mesquita (1953, Musidisc MV-002)

3. Carlos Galhardo from the album Salão Grenat (1958, RCA Victor BBL 1006)

4. Pernambuco from the album Viagem Musical – A Bossa Velha de Pernambuco (1960, Internacional CID 27024)

5. Mara Silva from the album Sucessos em Teleco-Teco (1962, Copacabana CLP 11238)

Mara Silva — Sucessos em Teleco-Teco (b)
Artwork for Sucessos em Teleco-Teco by Sérgio Malta

6. Del Norman aka Luiz Lopes from the album Mais uma Vez Adeus (1962, Musicolor/Continental MLP 9037) aka Baile Dourado (196?, Disco Lar DL-LP 31.003)