Pandeiro is the quintessential Brazillian percussion instrument. This page is dedicated to spotlighting great pandeiro players of the present and past.
The first pandeiro spotlight is Carlinhos Pandeiro de Ouro, of course! This performance was in 2011 when Carlinhos accepted the National Endowment of the Arts National Heritage Fellowship Award. This is a lifetime achievement award for artists and a HUGE accomplishment. I was fortunate enough to accompany Carlinhos to Washington D.C. to play with him at the acceptance concert. I was personally invited because of our Apprentice Grant together in 2010 through the Alliance for California Traditional Arts. This grant was what sparked the writing of my book “How to Play Pandeiro Like Carlinhos Pandeiro de Ouro.”
I can’t help but share two videos of Carlinhos Pandeiro de Ouro. Not only is he a player with a deep swing, but he is also an unparalleled performer and juggler. This video was taken in Sweden with the Silva Samba Show. Carlinhos performed with his juggling group “Trio de Ouro” from around 1962-1974, but performed solo with Silvia Vrethammar for a few years after that. He was awarded the name “Pandeiro de Ouro” on August 15th, 1966 at a competition named “Concurso Pandeiro de Ouro” In the Maracanã Soccer Stadium. Carlinhos says that there were at least 100 competitors and 10 finalists at that competition.
