As a composer, Hervé Cordovil wrote classics like the baião "Cabeça Inchada" (which had over 50 re-recordings in Europe), the baião "Sabiá Lá Na Gaiola" (recorded by Carmélia Alves), "Seu Gaspar" (recorded by Sílvio Caldas), the hit "Rua Augusta" (re-recorded several times by Jovem Guarda and Brazilian rock artists, like his son Ronnie Cord, Erasmo Carlos, Rita Lee, and others), and "Uma Loira" (another smash, in Dick Farney's interpretation). He had partnerships with Marisa Pinto Coelho (the classic baião "Pé de Manacá"), Bonfiglio de Oliveira ("Carolina," recorded by Carlos Galhardo), Noel Rosa ("Triste Cuíca," recorded by Araci de Almeida, and "Não Resta a Menor Dúvida," from the soundtrack to the film Alô Alô Carnaval), Lamartine Babo ("Alô, Alô, Carnaval," included on the soundtrack of the eponymous film, and "Seu Abóbora," recorded by Carmen Miranda), Adoniran Barbosa ("Prova de Carinho"), and Luiz Gonzaga ("A Vida do Viajante," "Baião da Garoa," and "Xaxado"). Cordovil debuted as pianist and composer in 1931 at Rádio Sociedade (Rio de Janeiro) and in Romeu Silva's orchestra. Four years later, already consecrated as a pianist, his composition "Triste Cuíca" (with Noel Rosa) was recorded by Araci de Almeida. That same year, he conducted the orchestra in Wallace Downey's film Estudantes. "Pé de Manacá" was recorded by Isaura Garcia and became an international hit. In the '40s, he was hired by Rádio Record, where he worked for almost 30 years as a pianist, arranger, and composer, until his retirement. ~ Alvaro Neder