Along the piano, he also played accordion, was an arranger and a singer. In his music, he blended additional rhythms such as baião and forro as well as incorporated Caribbean rhythms after living in the US in the 1950s. He first worked with Altamiro Carrilho and went on to perform with Antônio Carlos Jobim and Astrud Gilberto .
Songs by João Donato have enchanted the general public in a career span that lasted over 70 years; perhaps many do not attribute his authorship to very popular songs in Brazil. He recorded with names such as Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, Martinho da Vila and Gal Costa.
Background and Life
João Donato was born in the state of Acre, in 1934. He was the middle child of a musical family. His father, a military man, played the mandolin in his spare time. When Donato was 11 years old, he moved with his family to Rio de Janeiro and began to frequent music circuits.
When her fingers touched the piano keys, a smile always appeared on his face and the world filled with melody.
The first composition was at the age of 7 with the accordion he got as a Christmas gift. The song was composed for his first great passion, and in it João Donato's verses already said: "I can't live without love".
From the accordion he went to the piano, where arrangements and other compositions would be born. João Donato's love for music appeared in many ways. This son of the north of Brazil took Brazilian music to the world.
As a teenager, he demonstrated more musical than scholastic ability and so he left school in 1949. He lived with fellow musicians, played guitar in the bars of Rio de Janeiro and, of course, talked about music. In the 1950s he visited the “Sinatra-Farney Fan Clube”, considered by many specialists as the school that created the Bossa Nova. Donato befriended individuals such as João Gilberto, Tom Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes, Johny Alf, and others, although he never recorded with them. Instead, he was a musician who played for himself.
His first album “Chá Dançante”, was recorded in 1956 when he was 22, at the invitation of Antônio Carlos Jobim, artistic director of the label who took turns with Donato on the piano.
In 1959, he moved to Los Angeles, California. He stayed in the United States for 13 years. His time in the US is where he developed his musical style. It gave him the opportunity to incorporate African Cuban music with Jazz; Inspired by Latin music, he created his trademark syncopated piano beat.
“ I wanted jazz, I went there to learn, to meet the guys I admired so much. I found jazz people very sad because there was nowhere to play, they played in Latin orchestras, which was where they had jobs. So I went looking for the Latin orchestras to find the jazz people.” - João Later told show host Pedro Bial.
In 1970 he composed the album "Bad Donato" - considered one of the best in Brazilian music. And he brought "O Sapo", an early version of the hit, "A Rã", which would later have lyrics by Caetano Veloso.
João also sang, and the best version of his song “Flor de Maracujá”, covered by many Brazilian artists, was his original recording for his 1975 album “Mpb Especial” recorded only with only voice and piano.
Gilberto Gil was a partner in songs such as "A Paz". ”He stayed there on the sofa, fell asleep, dozed a little on the sofa. When he woke up, I had already written the lyrics ”, said Gil.
João Donato also recorded with Chico Buarque, Martinho da Vila and Gal Costa. João Donato was considered a master of bossa nova masters, owner of an irresistible swing.
“This mix of Brazil and Cuba, with samba, that’s his characteristic, and he's always looking for young people and working with young people. He is a man who never aged, always working and always looking for new things. A daring man, ahead of his time said singer-songwriter Danilo Caymmi.
João Donato innovated by adding synthesizers to the piano. His son, Donatinho, was a breeding partner.
Another constant partner was his brother: Lysias Enio.
During the pandemic he released an album with new songs titled “Síntese do Lance" along with Jards Macalé. In 2022, he released his last album "Serotonina" featuring newer artists.
Death & Homages
João Donato died died in the early hours of Monday, July 17. 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Donato was hospitalized at Casa de Saúde São José, in the South Zone of Rio, and the cause of death was pneumonia.
“Today the sky of composers dawned happier: João Donato went there to play his beautiful melodies”, his social media announced. “Now, its joy and its chords remain eternal throughout the universe.”
In a career spanning over 70 years, João Donato has turned fans into partners. So with the news of his passing the homages came pouring:
"João Donato was one of my first enchantments in Brazilian music. And then I was lucky to become his partner, a friend, in many adventures, in many stories. He is a person who has dedicated his life to bringing joy to the world" said singer-songwriter Joyce.
Marcos Valle posted a photo with his friend and published: ”may you be welcomed with lots of music and lots of colors"
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wrote on a social network: “João Donato was one of the geniuses of Brazilian music. Today we lost one of our greatest and most creative composers.
Roberto Menescal João Donato's companion since the bossa nova era, spoke of the importance of his friend in his musical formation.
"Of course I would be a musician even without João Donato, but I wouldn't be the musician I am today, with what I learned from him. Me and all the others of my generation who were lucky enough to come across and play with him like I did.”
Brazil-based British musician and singer Ritchie posted: I had the privilege of receiving João at my house 2 or 3 times a week throughout 1989. He used to come and record his "demos" in my studio. I learned a lot of Brazilian music with him. Go in peace, my friend. Grateful for the honor of meeting you more personally.
Caetano Veloso posted on social networks: “ I had the grace to partner with João Donato. He was heaven on earth. I'm proud to have written lyrics in "Naturally" and even "The Frog". Gal's (sic: Gal Costa) show, which I directed and which featured his piano and his genius, was so good that even Nelsinho Motta didn't understand. "Cantar", the album from which this show came out of, was a critical, commercial and sales failure. Today it is loved. Donato was never late for the season's performances. João Gilberto used to say that Donato played the piano with more than ten fingers. Tom Jobim had a photo of him in his living room. Macalé was blessed with a record in partnership with Donato. Gil composed miracles with him. His music, samba-jazz free from samba-jazz, is always perfect. The highest achievement of extreme complexity in extreme simplicity. 🖤🌹“.
Sources:
g1: https://g1.globo.com/google/amp/jornal-nacional/noticia/2023/07/17/joao-donato-compositor-e-multi-instrumentista-morre-aos-88-anos.ghtml
Wiki: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/João_Donato
Cadê Jodel?
João Donato Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gosto tanto de Jodel
Acho que tá muito errado
Ela ter me abandonado
Ela foi-se da cidade
Com seis anos de idade
Acho que não tá direito
Tô morrendo de saudade
Não é coisa que se faça
Era minha namorada
A minha coisa mais amada
Se ela me visitar
Um presente vou lhe dar
Nem que seja uma semana
Já é bom pra quem se ama
Quero ver o seu sorriso
Ai, meu Deus, como eu preciso
Se ela voltar um dia
Eu morro de tanta alegria
Ai, meu Deus, cadê Jodel?
Gosto tanto de Jodel
Acho que tá muito errado
Ela ter me abandonado
Cadê Jodel?
The lyrics of João Donato's song "Cadê Jodel?" express the singer's longing for a lost love, Jodel. The song begins with the plea, "Ai, meu Deus, cadê Jodel?" ("Oh my God, where's Jodel?"), conveying the singer's deep-seated worry and confusion about the sudden disappearance of his beloved. He professes his intense fondness for her, saying, "Gosto tanto de Jodel" ("I like Jodel so much"). He feels that something is not right and that it is "muito errado" ("very wrong") for her to have left him.
The singer reminisces about Jodel's childhood, saying that she left the city at the age of six. He is tormented by the memory of her departure and cannot help but feel that something was awry. He says that he is "morrendo de saudade" ("dying from missing her") and cannot bear the thought of not seeing her again. The singer's desperation is clear when he says, "Se ela voltar um dia / Eu morro de tanta alegria" ("If she ever returns, / I'll die from so much joy").
Line by Line Meaning
Ai, meu Deus, cadê Jodel?
Expressing disappointment and longing for the whereabouts of Jodel.
Gosto tanto de Jodel
Conveying a strong affection for Jodel.
Acho que tá muito errado
Acknowledging that Jodel's departure was not right.
Ela ter me abandonado
Feeling abandoned by Jodel.
Ela foi-se da cidade
Stating that Jodel left the city.
Com seis anos de idade
Adding a detail about Jodel's age when she left.
Acho que não tá direito
Expressing disapproval of Jodel's actions.
Tô morrendo de saudade
Feeling intense longing for Jodel.
Mas que coisa mais sem graça
Calling Jodel's departure bland and disappointing.
Não é coisa que se faça
Stating that Jodel's departure was not the right thing to do.
Era minha namorada
Describing Jodel as the singer's girlfriend.
A minha coisa mais amada
Referring to Jodel as the singer's most beloved thing/person.
Se ela me visitar
Expressing hope for Jodel to visit the singer.
Um presente vou lhe dar
Promising to give Jodel a gift upon her visit.
Nem que seja uma semana
Stating that even a week of Jodel's visit would be enough for the singer.
Já é bom pra quem se ama
Believing that any time spent with loved ones is valuable.
Quero ver o seu sorriso
Expressing the desire to see Jodel's smile again.
Ai, meu Deus, como eu preciso
Feeling a strong need to be with Jodel.
Se ela voltar um dia
Expressing hope for Jodel to return one day.
Eu morro de tanta alegria
Suggesting that the singer would be extremely happy if Jodel were to return.
Contributed by Isaac H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@CarlosHenrique-bl1pu
Que parceria linda Marcos Valle e João Donato ❤❤❤❤
@jodelchantre3676
E foi por causa dessa música que o meu pai escolheu o meu nome
@richawdon3856
Marvellosso!
@andrewcampbell1129
So beautiful! My life is better after hearing this
@user-nc9je5kd4b
❤❤❤
@marianadeoliveira3827
João Donato e Marcos Valle juntos só podia dar nessa maravilha, adoro os dois.
@victorcastela5413
com cordo ir mão
@joserobertobusto5733
@Victor Castela ⁹9c9o
@joserobertobusto5733
O
@MrRoger2306
João Donato é gênio.