Antônio Maria

Who was Antônio Maria?

Antônio Maria de Araújo Morais known as Antônio Maria, was a Brazilian writer of pop music lyrics as well as radio sports commentator, poet, composer, and chronicler.

At 17 he got his first job presenting a musical program at Pernambuco's Radio club. In 1940, he arrived in Rio de Janeiro, "with four changes of clothing and five quid in the pocket", to work as a sports commentator for Radio Ipanema. The job didn't last long and he went back to Recife, where he married Maria Gonçalves Ferreira in May 1944. By 1948, he was back in Rio. His family now increased by a son and daughter, Rita and Antônio Maria Filho, he took a position as Radio Tupi's production director, and was also a feature writer for the "O Jornal" newspaper.

Antônio Maria wrote daily features for more than 15 years - a daily account of what was going on in Rio de Janeiro. Up until 1955, his by-line appeared on "Long is The Night - A Noite É Grande", the "Antônio Maria Report - Jornal de Antônio Maria" and "Copacabana Cop's Story - Romance Policial de Copacabana".