Tom Jobim: A Life in Music

His music, characterized by sophisticated melodies and innovative harmonies, transcended cultural boundaries, captivating fans around the globe.

As you learn more about Tom Jobim, you will discover not only a talented musician but also a poet of music, whose compositions continue to enchant and inspire people of all ages.

Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim was born on January 25, 1927, in the traditional Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.

As a child, he lived in Ipanema and Copacabana, neighborhoods frequently referenced in his work.

Tom Jobim was primarily influenced by the classical music of French composer Claude Debussy.

Passionate about music from an early age and with the rhythm of samba, his taste in music began early.

He studied piano with renowned teachers, including Hans Joachim Koellreuter.

In a simple and melodic way of playing the piano, Jobim always added a touch of invention, an unexpected sonority, while his voice, slightly hoarse, highlighted the emotional aspects of the lyrics.

On October 15, 1949, Tom Jobim married Thereza de Otero Hermanny, his first wife, with whom he had two children, Paulo and Elizabeth.

In the 1950s, Jobim, still young, played in many bars and also in Copacabana nightclubs, until his talent was recognized and he was soon hired by the Continental record label as an arranger.

Like with Pixinguinha, Tom Jobim formed great partnerships, including João Gilberto in the bossa nova movement, and we cannot forget to mention Vinícius de Moraes, who, together with the famous 'poetinha', immortalized 'Eu sei que vou te amar', one of the most beautiful Brazilian songs.

Tom Jobim met the photographer Ana Beatriz Lontra in 1976, and 10 years later, they married on April 30, 1986.

This was his second wife, and they had two children, João Francisco and Maria Luiza.

Tom performed his last show in Jerusalem in 1994 and unfortunately, at the end of that year, he suffered a respiratory arrest, where he passed away on December 8, 1994, in New York.

Antonio Carlos Brasileiro, our beloved Tom Jobim, is considered the greatest exponent of all time of Brazilian popular music by Rolling Stone magazine and also one of the greatest composers of the 20th century.