Distinguished accompanist of some of the best talents of the Golden Age of Brazilian song, Antônio Rago (both as performer and director of his Regional do Rago) worked in recording studios, radio, and TV. He also had success in his solo career, having recorded more than ten LPs. At 14, he was influenced by the Italo-Brazilian music he heard in his borough of Bexiga and learned to play the violão (acoustic guitar). He also studied classical music. He joined the Regional do Armandinho, who opened at the Rádio Record. With leader Armandinho and bandmate Zé Carioca, Rago also knew success in the group's violão trio. He toured Argentina and Uruguay accompanying the singer Arnaldo Pescuma. Returning to Brazil in 1937, he was hired by Rádio Tupi (São Paulo), becoming Francisco Alves's accompanist. His first solo recording came in 1940, performing his valse Velhos Tempos. He wrote music for the animated cartoon #Cozinhando Um Samba (1946). His bolero Jamais Te Esquecerei (with Juraci Rago) was included in the film #Quase No Céu (Oduvaldo Viana, 1949). In 1950, the Regional do Rago won the Roquette Pinto Trophy as Best Regional Group of the year. Rago had his own show on TV Tupi, the first Brazilian television. He also wrote erudite music, like Flor Triana and Sonatina Em Lá Menor, which were included on his LP Recital De Violão. In 1986, he was still recording (Solos De Violão). ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi