Edu da Gaita was a famous virtuoso harmonica player in Brazil. Among his memorable performances and more than 200 recordings are Paganini's "Moto Perpetuo" (recorded in 1957) and Radamés Gnattali's "Concerto Para Gaita e Orquestra" (performed in 1958 ahead of the Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira), dedicated to him. His two LPs were both considered the Best of the Year by specialized critics. The several classical music awards he won include the Euterpe and the Música Erudita. He also performed extensively in the radio, as accompanist of the stars of his period, and was the soloist of Radamés Gnattali's sextet. He gave concerts through Portugal, France, England, Italy, and South America. At nine he won a contest interpreting Chopin's "Études No. 3." In 1933 Edu da Gaita moved to São Paulo (São Paulo), performing the harmonica at the Rádio Cruzeiro do Sul. In the next year, he settled in Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro). Three years later he was hired by the Rádio Mayrink Veiga where he was given his stage name by César Ladeira. He also performed in the Copacabana Palace Hotel, in the Cassino da Urca, and in the Cassino Icaraí (in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro). In 1939 he recorded for the first time. The song was "Canção da Índia" (Rimsky-Korsakov). Ten years later Gaita became the soloist of several symphonic orchestras when he began to enjoy his incontestable reputation. ~ Alvaro Neder