Se Ela Perguntar

Dilermando Reis, probably the most famous Brazilian popular guitarist, was born in São Paulo, but lived most of his life in Rio de Janeiro, where he worked actively in radio and recordings. From 1941 to 1975 he recorded over forty albums.

Reis was the son of the guitarist Francisco Reis who was also his first teacher. At 17, Dilermando attended a recital in his city Guaratinguetá by the guitarist Levino da Conceição. Inspired by the dexterity of the blind musician, Reis became his accompanist throughout the tour of Brazil.

After a while he moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he became a guitar teacher. In 1935, he premiered on Radio Clube do Brasil, presented by Renato Murce. Soon his mastery at the accompaniment of the great singers of those times was widely acknowledged, and he became active in other radio stations, including the most prestigious Rádio Nacional, where he worked until 1969.

Reis played different types of guitar music and recorded the compositions of Bach, Barrios, Tárrega, as well as popular Brazilian composers. His preference was the traditional Brazilian guitar style: waltzes and choros full of modulations to “confuse accompanists,” played with his unique style and sound.

Reis’s first LP came out in 1941, with his waltz “Noite de Lua” and his choro “Magoado.” In the period between 1941 and 1942 he joined a guitar orchestra which enlivened sophisticated evenings at the Casino da Urca. In 1953, he toured the U.S., recording for CBS. His waltz “Abismo de Rosas,” still popular to this day in some circles, was one of the most expressive recordings for Continental (Brazil) during the fertile period between 1950 and 1960. In 1972 he recorded the LP Dilermando Reis Interpreta Pixinguinha and in 1975, released O Violão (The guitar).

He recorded about 100 of his own compositions, many of which became standards of Brazilian popular guitar, like “Dois Destinos” and “Se Ela Perguntar.” In 1975 he recorded the LP The Brazilian Guitar of Dilermando Reis, containing his last compositions.