Friday 5 September 2014

DEMETRIUS

Demetrius's first single 'Hold me tight' b/w 'Young and in love' was recorded at Miguel Vaccaro Netto's Young Records and released on 7 July 1960. He was a natural rocker following the Elvis school.

Demétrio Zara Netto was born on 28 March 1942, in Jacarépaguá, Rio de Janeiro-DF. Apparently his family moved to São Paulo when he was still a child.

Demetrius was good looking, had the right attitude and knew how to behave on the stage. He started his singing career in English but in 1961, Diogo Mulero, A&R man at Continental Discos knew better and convinced Demetrius to sing 'Corina, Corina' in Portuguese.

'Corina, Corina' was a big hit, something Young Records could have never matched. Demetrius had finally arrived.
 rockers Tony Campello & Demetrius.
 Demetrius had the right look and attitude.
 Demetrius was a teen-age heart-throb in 1961.

17.902 - June 1961
'Corina, Corina' (Corrina, Corrina) v.: Demetrius / Let's think about loving (B.Bryant)

18.028 - November 1961
'Cuide certinho do meu bem' (Take good care of my baby) / 'Alfabeto de Natal' (Christmas alphabet)
78-020 - 'Rock do Sacy' (Baby Santiado-Tony Chaves) / Broto levado (Demetrius)
78-024 - 'Cinderella' (P.Anka) / In the fool's hall of fame (Paul Anka)
78-068 - 'Namoradeira' (Runaround Sue) / ...                        May 1962
78-313 - 'O ritmo da chuva' (Rhythm of the rain) / 'Despenteada' (Despeinada) - Jan. 1964
78-020 'Rock do Sacy' b/w 'Broto levado'.
78-024 'Cinderella' b/w 'In the fool's hall of fame'.
78-313 'O ritmo da chuva' (Rhythm of the rain) b/w 'Despenteada' (Despeinada).

'Demétrius canta com amor e mocidade' album was released in December 1961.

Demétrius is back to the limelight in late 1965, in the wave of the hullaballoo created by Roberto Carlos and 'Jovem Guarda' his TV rock-show started on 22nd August 1965. Demétrius had been #1 in early 1964 with 'Ritmo da chuva' (a cover of The Cascades' 'Rhythm of the rain') but could not have a follow-up so he sort of slowed down and went fishing more often which is what he really enjoy in life. 

When he saw what 'Jovem Guarda' was accomplishing he felt like 'coming back'; RCA Victor which wanted badly to compete with CBS in the field of Brazilian rock, approched him and he signed in the dotted line. Soon he recorded 'Ternura', translated to Portuguese by Rossini Pinto, from 'Somehow it got to be tomorrow (today)' for his new label. 'Ternura' played quite well on the radio stations even though there was heavy competition from Wanderléa who had recorded it first. 'Melodias' # 102 of December 1965.
Demetrius with Nancy dos Santos in 2013. Nancy was Agostinho dos Santos' daughter who had 'A Ferradura', a busy bar in São Bernardo do Campo-SP which she turned into her Father's shrine. Demetrius used to hang out there on Sundays afternoon. 
Nancy dos Santos, Demetrius & a patron of 'A Ferradura', in 2013.

N.B.: Demétrius, Demétrio Zahra Netto was born on 28 March 1942, in Rio de Janeiro-DF (Jacarépaguá) and died on 11 March 2019, in São Paulo-SP due to a cardiac arrest. He was 76 years old.

Nancy dos Santos died on 7 July 2020

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