by Alvaro Neder
Dori Caymmi is an internationally celebrated composer and singer, having an expressive production recorded by many important artists worldwide, along with a prominent career as an arranger and producer, having also written music for soundtracks.

The son of composer Dorival Caymmi and former singer Stella Maris (Adelaide Tostes Caymmi), Caymmi began very early to study music, taking up piano at eight with Lúcia Branco, and later, with Nise Poggi Obino. Attending the Conservatório Lorenzo Fernandez for music theory classes, he also studied harmony with Paulo Silva and Moacir Santos. In 1959, he debuted on the stage, accompanying his sister Nana. In 1960, he joined the Grupo dos Sete, writing music for televised plays. In December 1964, the important play Opini?o (performed at a theater with the same name in Rio), which buried bossa nova and generated the MPB as a movement derived from protest songs, had his musical direction and viol?o playing. In 1966, he directed the music for the important play Arena Conta Zumbi during the Carioca season. From 1964 to 1966, he produced the recordings of such artists as Edu Lobo, Eumir Deodato, and Nara Le?o for the Philips label. In 1965, he performed in the historic Beco das Garrafas on Rios 52nd street at Bottles nightclub, together with Francis Hime. The next year, he presented himself, together with Hime, Wanda Sá, and Vinícius de Moraes, at the Teatro de Bolso in Rio. With Nelson Motta, he composed several songs presented in Brazils historic festivals, being classified several times. In 1966, their song Saveiros, interpreted by Nana Caymmi, won first place in the national competition and second place at the international, at the I FIC (International Song Festival) of TV Rio. The next year, with Cantiga performed by MPB-4, they came in ninth place at the II FIC from TV Globo, Rio. One of the biggest hits of the duo, O Cantador (Like a lover), recorded by many artists such as Flora Purim, Natalie Cole, and Sarah Vaughan, was also classified at TV Records III FMPB (Festival of Brazilian Popular Music). The duo also wrote De Onde Vens, recorded by Elis Regina and Nara Le?o, and Festa, recorded by Jair Rodrigues, Elis Regina, and Sérgio Mendes.