Ivon Curi (born as Ivon José Curi in Jun 05, 1928; died in Jun 24, 1995) innovated the one-man show style in Brazil. His successful career spanned from 1944 to 1993. Through that time he recorded many albums, worked in radio, TV, and theater as a humorist, singer, composer, and actor. His biggest hits were his compositions "Tá Fartando Coisa em Mim," "Retrato de Maria," "João Bobo," "Farinhada," "Casar é Bom" (with Meira Guimarães), and "Me Leva," recorded in duo with Carmélia Alves, representing her first baião in a long series that would yield her the title of Queen of Baião in the '50s, given by the King of Baião, Luís Gonzaga. Curi started his professional career as a crooner for the Orquestra Zacarias at the Copacabana Palace Hotel (Rio de Janeiro). In 1947, he recorded his first album for Continental. Heavily influenced by the French chanson, in 1952 Curi adopted a humoresque line and a Northeastern repertory. In 1956 and 1957, he toured Europe, performing in Portugal where he was considered the best interpreter of Brazilian music. In 1993, hosted a TV show (Show da Manchete) and starred in the theater show A França e Quinze Saudades, in which he interpreted French songs. His last solo album, Douce France, consisted of that show's songs.
