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Eumir Deodato is a Brazilian pianist, composer, arranger, and record producer renowned for his versatile contributions across jazz, pop, rock, and classical genres.
Eumir Deodato collaborated with Earth, Wind and Fire, contributing as an arranger and producer for their music.
Deodato produced several of Kool & The Gang's hit records, including 'Celebration', 'Ladies' Night', and 'Too Hot'. This period represented a significant stage in the band's musical evolution.
Eumir Deodato had a close collaboration with Icelandic singer Björk, arranging her albums 'Post', 'Telegram', and 'Homogenic'. He also conducted orchestras for her concerts.
Deodato arranged and produced records for Frank Sinatra, including "Sinatra & Co." (1969).
Deodato served as the string arranger and conductor for several of Roberta Flack's projects, including albums like "Killing Me Softly", "Chapter Two", and "Quiet Fire".
Deodato had a significant collaboration with Antonio Carlos Jobim, working on film scores like 'The Adventurers' (1970) and having his debut album, 'Inútil Paisagem' (1964), dedicated to Jobim's work. He also arranged and conducted for Jobim on various projects, including 'Stone Flower' (1970) and 'Tide' (1970).
Deodato contributed as an arranger and performer for jazz artist Wes Montgomery, notably on albums like 'A Day in the Life' (1967) and 'Down Here on the Ground' (1968).
Deodato collaborated with jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, arranging and conducting on albums such as 'Salt Song' (1971), 'The Baddest Turrentine' (1973), and 'The Sugar Man' (1975).
Deodato produced several records for the funk and R&B band Con Funk Shun.
Deodato has produced and arranged multiple albums for Brazilian singer Ithamara Koorax, including 'Ithamara Koorax Sings the Luiz Bonfa Songbook' (1996) and 'Serenade in Blue' (2000).
Deodato contributed to k.d. lang's 'Hymns of the 49th Parallel' (2004) by conducting and arranging strings.
Deodato produced 'So Far So Close' (1988) for Eliane Elias.
Deodato produced the Top 5 pop hit "I Still Believe" (1987) for Brenda K. Starr, as well as her album 'Brenda K. Starr' (1987).
Deodato produced for Gwen Guthrie, including her album 'Just for You' (1985).
Deodato produced and contributed keyboards and programming to Chuck Mangione's 'Disguise' (1984).
Among his recent projects, Deodato has done production work for Brazilian-Japanese singer Lisa Ono, including her album 'Pretty World Suite!' (2000).
Deodato has done production work for jazz singer Ann Hampton Callaway, including her album 'Signature' (2002), where he also arranged and conducted.
Eumir Deodato de Almeida was born on June 22, 1942, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Italian and Portuguese parents. He began his musical journey at the age of 12, starting with the accordion, and two years later he transitioned to the piano. Deodato was self-taught in orchestration, arranging, and conducting, learning through books and by observing orchestras. His first professional opportunity came at 17, when he arranged and conducted a recording session for a 28-piece orchestra. During the bossa-nova era, he became a sought-after arranger and pianist in Rio, working with artists such as Milton Nascimento, Marcos Valle, Elis Regina, and Antonio Carlos Jobim. In 1967, Deodato moved to New York at the invitation of Luiz Bonfá, where he continued to work extensively as an arranger for numerous Brazilian artists and later with jazz musicians like Wes Montgomery and Stanley Turrentine.
Deodato gained significant international recognition as a leader in 1973 with his solo debut album, “Prelude,” and its successful rendition of “Also Sprach Zarathustra” (2001: A Space Odyssey). This single sold over 5 million copies and reached top positions on pop charts worldwide. His achievements were recognized with a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Rock Instrumental Performance in 1974 and a nomination for Best Pop Artist. Following this success, he formed his own group and embarked on extensive world tours. After touring, Deodato shifted his focus to studio work, becoming a producer and arranger. He achieved further acclaim by producing Kool and The Gang’s chart-topping single “Celebration,” followed by other multi-platinum albums like “Lady’s Night,” “Something Special,” and “As One.” His work as a producer and arranger has resulted in 16 platinum records and over 25 million records sold in the USA alone across more than 450 albums.
Throughout his career, Deodato has collaborated with a wide array of musical figures across different genres. He arranged for Frank Sinatra, Roberta Flack (including hits like “Killing Me Softly”), and Aretha Franklin. In the 1990s, he developed a significant partnership with Icelandic singer Björk, arranging her albums “Post” (1995), “Telegram” (1996), and “Homogenic” (1997). He also contributed to film scores for movies such as “The Onion Field” (1979), “The Adventurers” (1970), “Girl of Ipanema” (1967), and “Bossa Nova” (2000). His compositions have been covered by artists including George Benson, Lee Ritenour, and Sarah Vaughan. His extensive discography and diverse collaborations underscore his lasting impact on the global music industry.
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