Vicente Celestino

Vicente Celestino
Background information
Birth nameAntônio Vicente Filippe Celestino
Born(1894-09-12)September 12, 1894
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
DiedAugust 23, 1968(1968-08-23) (aged 73)
São Paulo
Genresvocal, guitar
Occupation(s)singer, songwriter, actor
Years active1915-1968
LabelsOdeon, Columbia, RCA Victor

Antônio Vicente Filipe Celestino (12 September 1894 – 23 August 1968) was a Brazilian singer, composer and actor of Italian descent.[1]

Life and career

Celestino was born in Rio de Janeiro, in the district of Santa Teresa, on 12 September 1894, although his birthdate was registered as 22 September. Son of Giuseppe Celestino and Serafina Gammaro, Italian immigrants from Calabria, he had eleven siblings. Five of them also became singers and one became an actor (Amadeu Celestino[2]). From a humble background, Celestino worked since he was eight as a shoemaker, fishmonger, and newsboy.

A fan of Enrico Caruso, Celestino started singing for acquaintances, at parties, beer halls, revues and serenades. He made his professional debut singing the waltz Flor do Mal at Teatro São José; his first album was released in 1915 by Odeon (Casa Edison). selling thousands of copies.[3] A tenor, Celestino toured across Brazil and recorded 137 78 RPM discs, ten compacts and 31 LPs.

Celestino married movie director Gilda de Abreu, who has directed him in two films: O Ébrio (1946) and Coração Materno (1951), named after and featuring his songs.[4]

Celestino died on 23 August, 1968, in São Paulo.

References

  1. ^ Leu, Lorraine (2017-07-05). Brazilian Popular Music: Caetano Veloso and the Regeneration of Tradition. Routledge. ISBN 9781351573221.
  2. ^ "Amadeu Celestino, 90 anos", Testemunhas do Século, Terra.
  3. ^ Cultural, Instituto Itaú. "Vicente Celestino". Enciclopédia Itaú Cultural (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  4. ^ Foster, Gwendolyn Audrey (1995). Women Film Directors: An International Bio-critical Dictionary. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 1. ISBN 9780313289729. vicente celestino gilda de abreu.