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About Lafayette
Hometown
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Genre
Brazilian
The most important pianist/organist of the Jovem Guarda, Lafayette had huge hits in the late '60s, having recorded around 30 LPs in his 15 years with CBS; he also won a gold record and was awarded with the Chico Viola trophy. He started in music together with Roberto Carlos, Erasmo Carlos, Jorge Ben, Tim Maia, and other soon-to-be famous artists in the dawn of "young music" in Brazil, when they used to meet, still in the '50s, in the Matoso street in the Tijuca neighborhood. In 1958, Lafayette formed the group Blue Jeans Rockers with friends; he was the pianist. In 1965 Lafayette had his first single; together with his wife, the singer Dina Lúcia, they recorded three songs by Roberto Carlos/Erasmo Carlos. In the next year, he released his first solo LP, Lafayette Apresenta os Sucessos, which did very well for the period, surprising the recording company (CBS) with the 18,000 copies sold in a few months. With that success, he recorded in the same year an album dedicated to Christmas songs, Natal com Lafayette, which also was a top seller with 15,000 copies. In 1967, he formed the group Sambrasa, dedicated to iê-iê-iê music (style popular in the Jovem Guarda period, derived from the Beatles' sound). In mid-1967, Lafayette's version of "Music to Watch Girls By" ("Música Para Ver a Garota Passar") won fifth place in the top parade. He also would have a huge hit in the late '60s with his version of "A Whiter Shade of Pale." As the principal session pianist and organist on many important Jovem Guarda albums, like the very first one, Roberto Carlos' Jovem Guarda, he helped to shape the style's sound. After many years without new recordings, he still is active in Rio de Janeiro, playing balls and in shopping malls. ~ Alvaro Neder
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