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Jacob Do Bandolim
Biography
Jacob do Bandolim is one of the first names in the history of the choro genre. A serious and dedicated musician, he instilled a high degree of professionalism in the traditionally relaxed music -- even if he was never a professional himself (he made a living as a notary). He struggled to preserve Brazilian roots, and fought to impose his artistic sincerity on the music industry. He left important compositions that were incorporated in the repertory of chorões.

The son of a middle-class family, do Bandolim followed formal studies until his completion of the accounting course of study. In 1930, when he was 12, he became strongly motivated by the music of a blind violinist who was his neighbor. Asking his mother to give him a violin, he left the bow of the instrument aside, picking the strings with hairpins. After many broken strings, his mother gave him a mandolin at the suggestion of another neighbor.

His first performance as an amateur was three years later, at the Grêmio dos Estudantes Israelitas. In December of that year, he performed for the first time on Rádio Guanabara. In those times, he was already a brilliant mandolinist, and also a good violonista (acoustic guitarist) and cavaquinho player.