Walter Wanderley

Brazilian Bossa Nova Organist

Walter Wanderley (May 12, 1932, Recife, Brazil - September 4, 1986, San Francisco, USA) was a Brazilian pianist, organist and arranger. He moved to São Paulo in 1947 where he reportedly learned to play organ with his aunt and also studied harmony at Lyceu de Artes. Wanderley started performing and recording professionally around 18. He recorded over 18 albums in Brazil. He gained notoriety during the 1960s with his band, Walter Wanderley e Seu Conjunto. He accompanied João Gilberto for whom he did arrangements for Gilberto's third album. Married to singer Isaura Garcia, Wanderley moved to the USA in 1965, invited by Creed Taylor to sign with Verve Records after Tony Bennett recommended him to Taylor. Walter's first album for Verve, with José Marino on bass and drummer Claudio Slon plus guests Bucky Pizzarelli and Urbie Green, "Rain Forest," included the Billboard Top 50 hit "So Nice" (Summer Samba). After several albums for Verve (featuring such musicians as Dom Um Romao, Paulinho Magalhaes and Marcos Valle, he signed to A&M/CTI, recording albums orchestrated by Don Sebesky and Eumir Deodato, featuring João Palma, Airto Moreira, Hubert Laws and Marvin Stamm. He later settled in California until he passed away from cancer.