Tonico & Tinoco

Tonico e Tinoco were a Brazilian música sertaneja duo from the state of São Paulo, composed of brothers Tonico (João Salvador Perez, March 2, 1917 – 1994) and Tinoco (José Perez, November 19, 1920 – May 4, 2012), they are regarded among the most famous and prolific artists in sertanejo. With their first hit single, "Chico Mineiro" (1946), they were named "A Dupla Coração do Brasil" ("The Brazilian Heart Duo"). They performed more than 40,000 times between 1935 and 1994, recorded more than 1,000 songs and sold over 150 million albums despite never performing outside of Brazil.

Early life and musical beginnings
Born in rural São Paulo to Spanish father Salvador Pérez and Brazilian mother Maria do Carmo, João and José Perez's passion for music came from their maternal grandparents Olegario and Isabel, who played songs on an old accordion. The brothers quickly began to learn and play songs and had their first concert on August 15, 1935. Along with their cousin Miguel, the brothers performed as Trio da Roça. The trio became known locally via radio broadcasts.

In 1937 the Pérez family relocated the city of Sorocaba, São Paulo. Tonico took up work in a quarry and cement factory while Tinoco turned to shining shoes and highway construction during Brazil's economic crisis and the onset of World War II. With city life proving unbearable, the family returned to farming in the countryside. By now the Perez brothers were performing as a duo, and their return to their rural home afforded them opportunity to perform live on the radio while they continued to travel to the city on Sundays to pick up extra work. Traveling back and forth between São Paulo's urban and rural areas helped the brothers to spread their music around the state, performing on the street, at festivals, entering contests and making appearances on many radio stations.

The duo made their recording debut on the Continental label in 1945 with the song "Em Vez de Me Agradecê" ("Instead of Thanking Me") the cateretê ". During the recording session, the brothers sang so loudly (as they did on the farm) that they overloaded and broke the microphone. The following year the duo broke through with the single "Chico Mineiro" making Tonico e Tinoco the most famous sertaneja duo in Brazil and making it possible for the brothers to buy a home for their family.

Later success
In 1961 Tonico and Tinoco made their cinematic debut in Eduardo Llorente film Lá no Meu Sertão, based on the life and work of the duo. While the film was in production, Tonico nearly died from tuberculosis and his brother Chiquinho filled in for him for both radio and studio appearances. Despite fears that Tonico would not be able to sing after surgery, the duo were soon performing again at full caliber.

In 1965 Eduardo Llorente featured the duo in another film, Obrigado à Matar, based on the legend of Chico Mineiro and the song of the same name that had made Tonico e Tinoco famous. Another film followed in 1969—A Marca da Ferradura (The Mark of the Horseshoe) by Nelson Teixeira Mendes and the following year the duo recorded a tribute album to Raul Torres which was completed two months after the singer died. Two less successful films—Llorente's Os Três Justiceiros (The Three Gunslingers) and Osvaldo de Oliveira's Luar do Sertão had the Perez brothers give up their acting career and focus solely on music.

On June 6, 1979, Tonico & Tinoco gave a three-hour concert for 2,500 people at the Municipal Theatre of São Paulo, a venue that had previously been used only for operas and ballets. In 1984, they returned to the screen as a cameo in Andrew Klotzel's A Marvada Carne.

Deaths
Tonico & Tinoco's final concert was in Mato Grosso on August 7, 1994. Tonico died shortly thereafter. Tinoco continued to perform solo until his death on May 4, 2012, in São Paulo, due to complications after respiratory failure. He was 91 years old.

Studio albums

 * 1958: Suas Modas Sertanejas
 * 1959: Na Beira da Tuia
 * 1960: A Dupla Coração do Brasil
 * 1961: A Saudade Vai
 * 1962: La no Meu Sertão
 * 1963: Cantando para o Brasil
 * 1965: Data Feliz
 * 1966: Artista de Circo
 * 1966: Rancho de Palha
 * 1969: Rei dos Pampas
 * 1971: A Marca da Ferradura
 * 1971: Laço de Amizade
 * 1994: Coração do Brasil

Compilation albums

 * 1968: As 12 Mais de Tonico e Tinoco
 * 1983: Os Grandes Sucessos de Tonico e Tinoco

Singles

 * Moreninha Linda
 * Chico Mineiro
 * O Gondoleiro do Amor
 * Saudades de Ouro Preto
 * Saudades do Matão
 * Tristeza do Jeca
 * Me Leva
 * Ferreirinha
 * Boiada Cuiabana
 * Velho Pai
 * Vingança de Soldado
 * Mourão da Porteira
 * Beijinho Doce
 * As Três Cuiabanas
 * Artista de Circo
 * Faz um Ano "Hace um Año"
 * Adeus Mariana
 * O Caipira é Vosso Amigo
 * Falsidade
 * Rei dos Pampas
 * Paraguaia
 * Enquanto a Estrela Brilhar
 * Luar do Sertão
 * Chuá, Chuá
 * Couro de Boi
 * Maringá
 * A Moda da Mula Preta
 * Que Linda Morena
 * Chico Mulato
 * Mineirinha
 * Pingo d´Água
 * Segredo se Guarda
 * Feijão Queimado
 * Estrada da Vida
 * Boiadeiro Apaixonado
 * João Carreiro
 * Cavalo Zaino
 * Ciriema
 * Baile em Ponta Porã
 * Cavalo Preto
 * Cidade Morena
 * Orgulhosa
 * Chalana
 * Adeus Campina da Serra
 * Moça Folgazona
 * Azul Cor de Anil
 * Rei do Volante
 * Minas Gerais
 * Boiadeiro Punho de Aço
 * João de Barro
 * Oi Vida Minha! (Moda do Peão)
 * O Menino da Porteira
 * Saudade que eu Tenho
 * Boi Amarelinho
 * As Flores
 * Boa Noite Amor
 * Mandamento do Motorista
 * Pingo Preto
 * Porquê
 * Paineira Velha
 * Lembranças
 * Cavalo Branco
 * Retalhos de Amor
 * A Viagem do Tietê
 * Lenda da Valsa dos Noivos
 * Três Batidas na Porteira
 * Praia Serena
 * Motorista do Progresso
 * Sorte Tirana
 * Distante de Ti
 * Adeus Gaúcha
 * Filho de Mato Grosso
 * Último Adeus
 * Carreiro Sebastião
 * Ranchinho de Taquara
 * Saudades de Araraquara
 * Teu Nome Tem Sete Letras
 * Bombardeio
 * Duas Cartas
 * Fandango Mineiro
 * Gaúcho Velho
 * Fogo na Serra
 * Decisão Cruel
 * Encantos da Natureza
 * Chão de Goiás
 * Eu Penso em Ti
 * Minha Mágoa
 * Burro Picaço
 * Chitãozinho e Xororó
 * Piracicaba
 * Cabocla Tereza
 * Bom Jesus de Pirapora
 * Canção da Criança
 * Não Vou Brincar
 * Estrela do Oriente
 * Dia de Natal
 * A Cuíca tá Roncando
 * Anel de Noivado
 * A Viola e o Cantador
 * Cidade Grande
 * Juriti Mineira
 * Viola de Ouro
 * Bate co Pé, Bate cá Mão
 * La Paloma
 * Velho Candieiro
 * Arroz à Carreteiro
 * Filho Pródigo
 * Disparada
 * Pinga Ni Mim
 * No Meu Pé de Serra
 * O Sanfoneiro só Tocava Isso
 * Seresta
 * Êh! São Paulo
 * Felicidade
 * A Mão do Tempo