Corcovado Band members

Francine Estes (Vocals)

Born in Sao Paulo Brazil, Francini has been performing in choirs since she was a little girl and loving music, specially, Bossa Nova. “I always have been fascinated with Bossa Nova music and attribute that to my father”, she says. Francini has another great passion, working with children: “I have been a teacher for two years and am currently studying to teach children with special needs”. About her experience with Corcovado she says: “My experience with Corcovado Band has been wonderful. It has been a humbling experience to bring joy into the lives of others through our music”.

 

Rosangela Antunes (Vocals)

A plastic artist with a great love for Bossa Nova, Rosangela has been signing in church, community activities and professional choirs since she was fourteen years old. Some of the choirs she has sang with was “Uniart” and “Marinelli Choir & Orchestra”. Married for thirty five years with Valdir Antunes, our pianist, and with four children, she loves her family and friends. She says:  “everything that I do I try to do with my heart and do my best to promote happiness”. About the Corcovado Band she says: “I feel especially grateful to be part of this wonderful group, all of them are excellent musicians and the best professionals in their respective areas”.

 

Valdir Antunes (Keyboard)

Valdir has lived in the United States since 2003. Before he came to the US, Valdir lived in Sao Paulo Brazil, where he got his degree in music through the Heitor Villa-Lobos Music Conservatory, and studied choir conducting with Professor H.J. Koellreutter, who was Tom Jobin’s teacher, and with Professor Roberto Manzo. Valdir conducted many church and professional choirs throughout the years, among them the Volkswagen Foundation Choir, Uniart Choir, Sao Bernardo do Campo City Choir, Bravo Choir and Bravinho Children Choir. Today, as part of Corcovado Band, Valdir has the opportunity to keep spreading the beautiful Brazilian music that was made famous by Tom Jobin and Joao Gilberto.

 

Steve Camargo (Bass Guitar / Vocals)

Born in Brazil in 1950, Steve came to the US in 1955. In 1963 he returned to Brazil and learned Portuguese and Brazilian music. Steve started learning guitar when he was thirteen years old, influenced by the Beatles. After he graduated in High School Steve came to BYU (Brigham Young University) where he graduated in Economics. Later he received his MBA degree in International Business from Thunderbird University, in Arizona, after which he returned to Brazil where he lived for the following twelve years. Steve started his first music band when he was fifteen, in Brazil, called the “Mormon Boys”, after that he was part of two others bands, before participating in Corcovado Band, called “Sal da Terra” and “Get Back”. All the other bands were Rock Bands. This is the first time Steve is involved in a Bossa Nova Band, and here is what he has to say about it: “this has been a great experience for me. Bossa Nova is the most beautiful jazz music in the World and the Band members are fun to work with”.

Roberto Nogueira (Guitar / Vocals)

Roberto was born in a poor area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the birth place of Bossa Nova, “but, luckily, with a guitar always close to me” as he said. Roberto moved to Sao Paulo and then to United States in the 90’s where he continues to look for opportunities to play the music of his heart, Bossa Nova. When asked about his experience he answered: “I performed in places like New York, Park City, Disney World, Universal Studios and the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. And I have been honored to play with the Corcovado Band and get to work with these incredible musicians”.

 

Dell Ragone (Vocals)

Born in Brazil, descending from an Italian family, started singing at age three and was taught by his mom to listen to all kinds of music, including opera. Dell has recorded many songs, jingles and TV’s commercials in Brazil including music for children at the LDS church and others outside the music market, which led him to record two CD’s - one in Portuguese and one in English. He describes his experience with Corcovado Band this way: “(…) it’s definitely a great opportunity for me to work with the Corcovado Band, it widens my range of different kinds of music I can sing. I like to sing a bit of everything. I feel like we are a big family here, with different talents shared in a very nice way”.

 

 

Renne Antunes (Drums)

The youngster of the Band, Renne is our drummer. Renne was Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He moved with his family to the United States when he was just eight years old. Renne was inspired to play the drums by his older brother. Currently he is going to high school and taking percussion classes “to became a better drummer” he says.  Another thing Renne likes to do, as he says, is to “learn as much as I can about muscle cars and percussion”. He says that he is “(...) happy with what I am doing and I love this band!”.