Corcovado Band members

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 graduating from 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.
Steve started his first music band when he was fifteen, in Brazil, called the “Mormon Boys”. Before participating in Corcovado Band, Steve organized and was the leader of two other bands. One was called “Sal da Terra” which played a variety of music from Bossa Nova and Samba to Rock & Roll. The second was called “Get Back” which specialized in Beatles music in the beginning and expanded to Classic Rock & Roll.
This is the second 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. The band members are very professional and fun to work with”.

Valdir Antunes (Piano / Arrangements)

With a solid musical experience, Valdir Antunes, a native of São Paulo, Brazil, was born into a musical family, quite possibly the reason why he was extremely involved in Brazilian music since his youth. At the age of eight, he received his first musical instrument, an acoustic guitar, from his father, who was an excellent guitarist.
At age 9 he began studying classical piano. Years later, in 1973, he received his Piano Teaching degree through the Heitor Villa-Lobos Conservatory in São Paulo. He excelled at the conservatory as a top student of classical piano. After his graduation, he continued his studies of piano, harmony, and counterpoint in the São Caetano do Sul Foundation of the Arts. He studied conducting with great musical masters such as Prof. H. J. Koellreutter (who also taught Antonio Carlos Jobim) and Roberto Manzo. In 1985, he received a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the Superior School of Business Management, in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo.
As a pianist, apart from individual performances, he also accompanied various choirs and soloists in concerts, recitals and master classes, where he performed a variety of music ranging from classical to popular Brazilian themes. He conducted a number of church choirs and also served as the main conductor of the Municipal Choir of São Bernardo do Campo, Volkswagen Foundation Choir and the Uniart Choir. He also served as a judge in Choir Festivals promoted by the Cultural League Alto-Uruguay in the Brazilian states of Paraná and Santa Catarina.
In 2003 he arrived in the United States and began teaching once again as a piano teacher. He developed his learning methods, and through his incredible ability to teach, rapidly gained a strong reputation as a piano instructor.
In Salt Lake City, Utah he is the conductor for Bravo Choir (Brazilian Voices) and for the Bravinho Youth Choir, many of which are also his piano students.
His deep love of Brazilian music motivated him to compose a vast number of arrangements for piano of beloved children’s songs and popular Brazilian music. He has also developed many choral arrangements.
As the pianist and arranger for Corcovado Band, Valdir has the opportunity to continue spreading the beautiful Brazilian music, which is recognized and appreciated throughout the world, to all who listen”.

George Edgar Brown (Acustic Guitar / Cavaquinho)

George Edgar Brown was born in Brasilia DF, Brazil the son of an American father and Brazilian mother. Bearing a rich musical heritage, George began study of the violin at age five which infected him with an insatiable thirst for musical knowledge and performance. He grew up listening to classical music and bossa nova. In his teens he began study of the guitar and developed an interest in rock music and songwriting. Turning back to his Brazilian roots George became a practitioner of Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art typically performed to music, and through this study became a competent percussionist.
George is known for his versatile musical ability but is identified specifically with an instrument called "cavaquinho", a small four string guitar and "cousin" to the hawaiian ukelele. In 2002 he began work with two bands, a percussion ensemble named "Samba Gringa" and the Samba-Pagode group "Jinga Boa" as lead singer and songwriter. Under the name "Jinga Boa" George released an album of his compositions entitled "Tá na Ginga" and played locally in Salt Lake City in prestigious events including the Utah Arts Festival. George is also associated with the Afro-Brazilian music and dance group "Samba Fogo".
He teaches Brazilian style guitar and cavaquinho and also works free-lance playing in restaurants, weddings and other special occasions both as a violinist and guitarist. George is currently a member of "Corcovado Band" which specializes in the bossa nova style of Brazil. George's favorite musical styles are samba and choro (an instrumental form of samba), but his diverse tastes include Portuguese fado, Cape Verdian morna and coladeira, classical music and opera, rock and roll, and other Brazilian styles including mpb, bossa nova, forró and the music of capoeira. George's love of music and Brazilian culture are easy to detect in his highly rhythmic and expressive style which is characterized by tasteful interpretation and an edgy authenticity not present in Americanized interpretations of Brazilian music.

Renne Antunes (Drums)

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Renne moved with his family to the United States when he was ten years old. Inspired by his older brother he began playing percussion and later started playing drums. He studied very hard to become a excellent Brazilian jazz drummer. With the opportunity of being a member of Corcovado Band he has discovered the art and inspiration that the Brazilian jazz music is.

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”.

 

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)

With a great love for good music and specially for the Brazilian jazz, Rosangela has been signing in churches, community activities and professional bands and choirs, since she was fourteen years old. Some of the choirs she has sung with were Municipal Choir of São Bernardo do Campo, Volkswagen Foundation Choir, Uniart Choir, and the Marinelli Choir & Orchestra. Her family has always involved in many musical activities.
She also is a great plastic artist with variety paintworks such as porcelain, oil on canvas, acrylic and pastel.
She says: "I feel especially grateful to be part of Corcovado Band, all of them are excellent musician and the best professionals that ever had worked with". .