Maria Creuza

Vinicius de Moraes’ favorite interpreter, Maria Creuza had success with several songs written by Antônio Carlos Pinto (her husband) and Jocafi. Having also recorded and toured with Moraes (Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar, 1972), she had her albums released in Europe and Japan, where she performed regularly. Her biggest hits were “Apelo” (Baden Powell/Vinicius de Moraes), “Eu Disse Adeus” (Roberto Carlos), “Pois É” (Chico Buarque/Tom Jobim), “Feijãozinho Com Torresmo” (Walter Queiroz), “Festa no Terreiro de Alaketu” (Antônio Carlos Pinto), “Mas Que Doidice” (Antônio Carlos/Jocafi), and “Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar” (Jobim/de Moraes). Having achieved local popularity as the crooner of the group Les Girls, Maria Creuza started to perform in radio and TV, hosting the show Encontro com Maria Creuza (TV Itapoã, Salvador, Bahia) for four years. Since 1965, she was involved with composer Antônio Carlos Pinto, of the duo Antônio Carlos & Jocafi, and in 1966, Creuza participated in the festival O Brasil Canta (Brazil Sings, TV Excelsior), interpreting “Se Não Houvesse Maria” (Antônio Carlos). In 1967, Creuza interpreted “Festa no Terreiro de Alaketu” (Antônio Carlos) in the III Festival de Música Popular Brasileira/FMPB (Festival of Brazilian Popular Music, TV Record), released as a single in the same year. She would be appointed the Best Interpreter and achieve third place in 1969 at the IV Festival Universitário (University Festival, Rio) for the composition “Mirante” (Aldir Blanc/César Costa Filho), having presented in the same year “Catendê” (Antônio Carlos/Jocafi) at the V FMPB. In 1970, Creuza performed with Vinicius de Moraes and Dori Caymmi in Punta del Este (Uruguay), having the show being recorded live and released as an LP. In 1972, she toured France and Italy. Two years later, she won second place at the II World Festival of Popular Music, in Tokyo, Japan, with “Que Diacho de Dor” (Antônio Carlos/Jocafi). ~ Alvaro Neder