Oscar Castro-Neves

Who was Oscar Castro-Neves?

Oscar Castro-Neves, was a Brazilian guitarist, arranger, and composer who is considered a founding figure in Bossa nova. He was born in Rio de Janeiro as one of triplets and formed a band with his brothers in his youth. At 16 he had a national hit with Chora Tua Tristeza. Many of the early Bossa Nova musicians began as teens so this was only slightly unusual. In 1962 he was in a Bossa Nova concert at Carnegie Hall, later he toured with Stan Getz and Sérgio Mendes. He went on to work with a diverse array of musicians including Yo Yo Ma, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder, João Gilberto, Eliane Elias, Lee Ritenour, Airto Moreira, Toots Thielemans, John Klemmer, Carol Welsman and Diane Schuur. During the 1970s and early 1980s he was member of the Paul Winter Consort.

He lived in Los Angeles, California where he worked as an orchestrator for several films including Blame it on Rio and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. He died of cancer in Los Angeles in September 27, 2013.