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Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Walter Wanderley
Person · male · Brazil · Recife · born 1932 · died 1986 · recording since 1962
Brazilian pianist, organist and arranger (1932-1986) of Bossa Nova and latin jazz
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Also known as Walter Wanderlay · Walter Wanderly · Wlater Wanderley · ワルター・ワンダレイ
Timeline
21 events▣ Album 18◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1† Death 1
1930s
1960s
· Debut release
Debut release: O samba é mais samba com Walter Wanderley
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2020s
Biography
English biography570 words · 5 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1379391118
Biography
Walter Wanderley (; born Walter Jose Wanderley Mendonça, May 12, 1932 – September 4, 1986) was a Brazilian organist and pianist, best known for his lounge and bossa nova music and for his instrumental version of the song "Summer Samba" which became a worldwide hit.
Biography
Wanderley was born in Recife, Brazil. Already famous in his native country by the late 1950s, he became an internationally renowned star in the mid-1960s through his collaboration with the singer Astrud Gilberto.
He recorded six albums on the Verve label between 1966 and 1968. Three of those albums, Rain Forest
Rain ForestSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Summer Samba3:07A2It’s Easy to Say Goodbye2:03A3Cried, Cried2:24A4Rain3:49A5The Girl From Ipanema2:38A6Beloved Melancholy2:40B1Taste of Sadness2:46B2Beach Samba3:53B3Call Me2:22B4Cry Out Your Sadness2:47B5The Great Love3:03B6Song of the Jet2:38, Cheganca, and Astrud Gilberto's A Certain Smile, A Certain Sadness, were with a trio consisting of Wanderley, Claudio Slon (drums), and Jose Marino (bass) and were produced in the United States by Creed Taylor, who initially brought the trio to the U.S. to record at the persuasion of Tony Bennett. Wanderley's U.S. recording of Summer Samba reached No. 26 on the Billboard charts in the summer of 1966. Another album recorded during that period was Popcorn
PopcornSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1Happy Birthday3:59A2Cabaret3:10A3Florianopolis3:05A4Kee-Ka-Roo2:41A5Diane in the Morning4:04B1Popcorn3:01B2A Different Beat3:22B3Home of the Range2:48B4Blue Island3:47B5Dusty Road3:02B6In My Automobile2:03, in collaboration with the Brazilian singer-guitarist Luiz Henrique Rosa. Around that same period Wanderley also established The Carnival with Bob Matthews, João Palma, José Soares, and Janis Hansen; all former members of Sérgio Mendes' Brasil '66.
After the trio disbanded (though they were briefly reunited in 1971 for "The Return of the OriginalThe Return of the OriginalSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Nobody3:012The Sea Is My Song2:233Good Time2:054Angelique2:455Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head2:526Poor Butterfly2:367A Spring Morning2:598Forgetting You3:099Camel Juice2:2510You2:5211Lollipops And Roses2:58" on Canyon Records), Wanderley himself continued to record albums on Verve, A&M/CTI, and GNP Crescendo. During that time, he also made numerous personal appearances, including a concert tour of Mexico.
Wanderley was known for his distinctive staccato stuttering style and mastery of the Hammond B-3 organ and on later recordings and during live concerts an L Series Hammond. His later career was blighted by alcoholism and he died of bone cancer in 1986 in San Francisco, California, aged 54.
He was married to Isaurinha Garcia, one of the most popular singers in Brazil in the 1940s and 1950s.
Albums
1959: Festa Dançante (RGE)
1959: Feito Sob Medida (Odeon MOFB-3109)
1960: Eu, Você e Walter Wanderley (Odeon MOFB-3085)
1961: Sucessos Dançantes Em Ritmo de Romance (Odeon MOFB-3155)
1961: O Sucesso é Samba (Odeon MOFB-3204)
1962: Samba é Samba (Odeon MOFB-3248)
1962: O Samba é Mais Samba (Odeon MOFB-3285)
1962: E O Bolero (Odeon MOFB-3289)
1963: Samba No Esquema (Odeon MOFB-3358)
1963: Walter Wanderley’s Brazilian Organ (Capitol ST-1856)
1964: Entre Nós (Philips P 632.197 L)
1964: Órgão Sax Sexy (Philips P 632.721 L)
1964: O Toque Inconfundivel (Philips P 632.726 L)
1965: Quarteto Bossamba (Som Maior)
1965: O Autêntico Walter Wanderley (Philips P 632.757 L)
1965: Samba So (Fermata)
1966: Sucessos + Boleros (Philips P.632.894 L)
1966: Rain Forest (Verve V6-8658)
1966: A Certain Smile, a Certain Sadness (with Astrud Gilberto; Verve V6-8673)
1966: Chegança (Verve V6-8676)
1967: Brazilian Blend (Philips PHM 600–227)
1967: Organ-ized (Philips PHM 200–233)
1967: Batucada (Verve V6-8706)
1967: Popcorn (Verve V6-8734)
1967: Murmúrio (Tower ST 5058)
1967: Kee-Ka-Roo (Verve V6-8739)
1968: When It Was Done (A&M / CTI SP-3018)
1969: Moondreams (A&M / CTI SP-3022)
1971: The Return of the Original (Beverly #SULP 19004)
1980: Brazil's Greatest Hits! (GNP Crescendo)
1981: Perpetual Motion Love (GNP Crescendo #GNPD 2142)
Singles
"Summer Samba (So Nice)" – US No. 26, 1966
"Amanha" (1966) – US AC #20
"On the South Side of Chicago" (1967) – did not chart
Side work
Wanderley's earliest appearances on recordings were contributions for other artists. Examples include Joao Gilberto, Elisete Cardoso, and Dóris Monteiro.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 13 | 67.6th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 25 | 88.9th |
| Studio albums | 18 | 95.8th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 21 | 94.3th |
| Recording span (years) | 24 | 53.9th |
| Genres | 14 | 98.6th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (25 release groups · 18 studio albums)
Albums · 18
O samba é mais samba com Walter Wanderley
1962 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks
A1LabaredaA2Você e euA3Volto jáA4Eu não tenho onde morarA5Deixa andarA6Eu e o rioB1A mesma rosa amarelaB2CorcovadoB3Só vou de mulherB4Que sabe você de mimB5A nega se vingouB6Poema da vidaSamba é samba com Walter Wanderley
1962 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks
A1O samba brasileiroA2O barquinhoA3MurmúrioA4Nossos momentosA5Chora, coraçãoA6Chorou, chorouB1PalhaçadaB2Água de beberB3Não sabemosB4BoatoB5Poema do adeusB6Mulher de trinta1964 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 26:43
A1Vou andar por ai3:04A2Questão de moral1:49A3Samba no balanço2:33A4Doce amor2:13A5Diz que fui por ai1:33A6Poeta popular2:39B1Balanço do mar2:07B2Acender as velas2:35B3Samba de roda2:00B4Vento do mar2:02B5Amanhecendo1:37B6Sambou...sambou2:311964 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 33:28
1Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar2:472Castigo2:323Fale Baixinho2:364a Noite Do Meu Bem2:525Por Causa de Voce2:286Meu Sonho E Voce3:257Suas Maos2:428Ouca2:399Contando Estrelas3:2210Cancao de Amor2:4411Ninguem Me Ama2:4712Risque2:341966 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 34:10
A1Summer Samba3:07A2It’s Easy to Say Goodbye2:03A3Cried, Cried2:24A4Rain3:49A5The Girl From Ipanema2:38A6Beloved Melancholy2:40B1Taste of Sadness2:46B2Beach Samba3:53B3Call Me2:22B4Cry Out Your Sadness2:47B5The Great Love3:03B6Song of the Jet2:381966 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 29:06
A1You and I (Você E Eu)2:11A2Rio and I (Eu E o Rio)3:05A3The Flame (Labareda)2:36A4I'll Be Right Back (Volta Já)1:58A5I've No Place to Live (Eu Não Tenho Onde Morar)2:10A6What Do You Know About Me (Que Sabe Você De Mim)2:12B1Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado)2:07B2Life's Poem (O Poema Da Vida)2:18B3Let Things Be (Deixa Andar)2:15B4The Same Yellow Rose (A Mesma Rosa Amarela)3:10B5I'll Only Go With a Woman (Só Vou De Mulher)2:23B6Baby Took Revenge (A Nêga Se Vingou)2:411966 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 27:38
1Samba de verao (Summer Samba)3:122Batucada surgiu (Chant of the Batoque)2:163Vivo sonhando (I Live Dreaming)2:464Mar, amar (Sea… to Love)2:005Você (You)3:226Reza (Lai ladaia) (Prayer)2:397Garota moderna (Modern Miss)3:158Menina flor (Beauteous Lass)2:159Opinião (Opinion)3:0110Deus brasileiro (God of Brazil)2:521967 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 36:49
A1On the South Side of Chicago2:42A2O Barquinho (Little Boat)3:04A3Batucada (The Beat)2:10A4It Hurts to Say Goodbye2:11A5Os Grilos (The Crickets Sing for Anamaria)4:27A6Minha Saudade2:47B1E Preciso Cantar (It's Time to Sing)3:33B2So, What's New3:11B3Wave3:17B4Ainda Mais Lindo3:19B5Ela E Carioca (She's a Carioca (Native of Rio))3:30B6Jequibau (Pretty Butterfly)2:381967 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 33:11
A1Amazonas2:15A2Kee-Ka-Roo2:52A3Canto de ossanha2:33A4Take a Chance With Me2:34A5Music to Watch Girls By3:01A6Errinho atoa2:40B1Samboa2:30B2The Bobo2:48B3Wait Until Dark2:48B4Menino das laranjas2:25B5Sebato sera3:40B6Sensuous3:051967 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 23:17
A1Red Roses For A Blue Lady (Rosas Vermelhas Para Uma Dama Azul)2:22A2The World (Il Mondo)2:13A3Forget Domani (Esqueca Domani)2:18A4Medley: Charade - Just For Tonight (Charada - Somente Para Esta Noite)3:03A5The Lonely One (Bicho Do Mato)1:54B1Medley: It's So Sad In Venice - My Darling (Que C'est Triste Venice - Ma Vie)2:48B2I'll Do The Samba With You (Vou De Samba Come Voce)1:32B3Go-Go Theme (Tema Do Vava)1:50B4White Ball (Bolo Branca)1:57B5Counting Stars (Contando Estrelas)3:201968 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 35:02
A1Happy Birthday3:59A2Cabaret3:10A3Florianopolis3:05A4Kee-Ka-Roo2:41A5Diane in the Morning4:04B1Popcorn3:01B2A Different Beat3:22B3Home of the Range2:48B4Blue Island3:47B5Dusty Road3:02B6In My Automobile2:031968 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 31:28
A1Open Your Arms2:42A2Surfboard2:39A3Baiao Da Garoa3:41A4Reach Out for Me2:43A5Ole, Ole, Ola2:33A6Ponteio2:32B1When It Was Done2:27B2On My Mind2:49B3Just My Love and I2:24B4Capoeira4:24B5Truth in Peace2:341969 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 30:48
A1Asa Branca4:30A2L'Amore Dice Ciao2:35A3Penha2:40A4One Of The Nicer Things3:05A5Proton, Electron, Neutron2:40B15:30 Plane3:38B2Soulful Strut3:00B3Moondreams2:30B4Jackie, All3:25B5Mirror Of Love2:451971 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 30:05
1Nobody3:012The Sea Is My Song2:233Good Time2:054Angelique2:455Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head2:526Poor Butterfly2:367A Spring Morning2:598Forgetting You3:099Camel Juice2:2510You2:5211Lollipops And Roses2:581981 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 37:16
A1Perpetual Motion Love2:00A2Just The Two Of Us2:52A3Surfboard3:05A4Sukiyaki2:00A5Amazonas2:43A6Monica3:20A7Caravan2:15B1Astronaut3:25B2Forget2:32B3On My Mind2:18B4The Moon Was Yellow1:58B5Recife1:50B6Julie Is Her Name2:45B7Samba Do Aviao (Jet Samba)4:131998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 49:20
1Popcorn3:052Agua de Beber2:313Amazonas2:204The Girl From Ipanema2:395Summer Samba3:156Blue Island3:487Taste of Sadness2:478Crickets Sing for Ana Maria4:269Canto de Ossanha2:3910A Different Beat3:2311Call Me2:2312Wave3:1613Beach Samba3:5214Music to Watch Girls By3:0515Goodbye Sadness (Tristeza)3:3516Batucada Surgiu2:16Samba No Esquema De Walter Wanderley
2003 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks
1Garôta De Ipanema2Batida Diferente3Zé De Conceição4Pra Que Chorar5Melancolia6Só Danço Samba7Samba Novo8Faço Um Lê-Lê-Lê9Bossa Na Praia10Samba Do Avião11O Que Eu Gosto De Você12Samba Só2021 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 31:41
1Saudades Da Bahia2:572Como E Bom Dancar2:413Stella by Starlight2:464De Conversa Em Conversa2:155O Orvalho Vem Caindo2:226O Que E O Amor2:367To the End of the Earth2:338Ruega Por Nosotros3:029Anema E Cuore2:2410Verao Em Veneza2:3911Dolores2:4312Nao Diga Nao2:43
Single · 2
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Chegança / AmanhaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 4:48AChegança2:48 BAmanha2:00 | 1966 | ||
| — | Summer Samba / Call MeSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracksASummer Samba BCall Me | — |
Album · 5
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Fantastic Walter Wanderley Boss of the Bossa NovaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 45 tracks · 1:57:15Disc 1 1Telefone2:15 2Samba das cores2:00 3Pula baú2:25 4Fica mal com deus2:37 5Chove chuva2:30 6Menino das laranjas2:44 7Bicho do mato1:54 8Bola branca2:00 9Tema do vava1:52 10Vou de samba com você1:33 11Deixa isso pra la1:30 12Batucada surgiu2:18 13Garota moderna3:12 14Opinião3:02 15Deus brasileiro2:50 16Samba só2:26 17Samba no Japão2:07 18Samba brasileiro2:54 19Samba da madrugada2:11 20Samba de bossa2:05 Disc 21Summer Samba (Samba de verão)3:06 2The Girl from Ipanema2:37 3Taste of Sadness (Cheiro de saudade)2:50 4Call Me2:23 5It's Easy to Say Goodbye (É fácil dizer adeus)2:02 6Song of the Jet (Samba do avião)2:42 7Nega do cabela duro2:20 8Goodbye Sadness (Tristeza)3:28 9Mar amar2:37 10Chegança (The Great Arrival)2:50 11O ganso2:50 12Você e eu2:50 13Amanhã2:04 14A Man and a Woman (Un homme et une femme)2:32 15Minha saudade (My Longing)2:46 16Batucada (The Beat)2:09 17On the South Side of Chicago2:40 18Os grilos (The Crickets Sing for Anamaria)4:22 19So, What's New?3:10 20Cabaret3:07 21A Different Beat3:23 22Happy Birthday3:58 23Music to Watch Girls by3:03 24Amazonas2:13 25Menino das laranjas2:48 | Compilation | 1996 | |
| 1996 | Samba Swing!Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 15 tracks · 43:371Summer Samba3:07 2It’s a Lovely Day Today2:40 3Cheganca (The Great Arrival)2:49 4Call Me3:22 5Taste of Sadness2:46 6Here’s That Rainy Day2:46 7O menino desce o morro3:18 8The Girl From Ipanema2:37 9A Certain Sadness3:10 10Água de beber2:31 11Cry Out Your Sadness2:46 12Nega do cabelo duro2:21 13Bossa no praia (Beach Samba)3:53 14O ganso2:55 15So Nice (Summer Samba)2:36 | Compilation | 1996 | |
| 2007 | Hammond Bossa From BrasilSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 18 tracks · 49:141Cried, Cried (Chorou, Chorou)2:26 2Take a Chance With Me2:38 3A Different Beat3:23 4Mar Amar2:37 5So Nice (Summer Samba)2:41 6Beloved Melancholy (Saudade Querida)2:41 7Errinho À Toa2:41 8Here's That Rainy Day2:46 9Voce E Eu2:54 10In My Automobile2:06 11It Hurts to Say Goodbye2:11 12It's a Lovely Day Today2:41 13Sensuous3:07 14O Menino Desce o Morro3:18 15Cabaret3:13 16On the South Side of Chicago2:40 17Menino Das Laranjas2:25 18Minha Saudade2:46 | Compilation | 25 May 2007 | |
| 2015 | Walter Wanderley’s Brazilian OrganSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 24 tracks · 1:01:581O samba brasileiro2:41 2O barquinho1:56 3Murmúrio2:35 4Nossos momentos2:53 5Chora, coração2:04 6Chorou, chorou2:55 7Palhaçada2:43 8Água de beber2:13 9Não sabemos2:37 10Boato2:50 11Poema do adeus2:45 12Mulher de trinta3:01 13Labareda2:36 14Você e eu2:11 15Volto já3:27 16Eu não tenho onde morar2:13 17Deixa andar2:20 18Eu e o rio3:08 19A mesma rosa amarela3:12 20Corcovado2:07 21Só vou de mulher2:26 22Que sabe você de mim2:03 23A nega se vingou2:44 24Poema da vida2:18 | Compilation | 2015 | |
| — | Brazil's Greatest HitsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 20 tracks · 50:361A Felicidade2:53 2Wave3:15 3Tristeza2:03 4Meditation1:54 5Recado2:57 6Feelings3:18 7Baia2:34 8Carnaval2:35 9Mas Que Nada1:40 10The Girl From Ipanema2:34 11Canta De Ossanha2:33 12Triste2:14 13One Note Samba2:04 14Quiet Nights2:21 15Berimbau2:38 16Desifinado2:23 17Summer Samba2:45 18How Insensitive3:03 19Samba De Orpheu1:36 20Brazil3:16 | Compilation | — |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Walter Wanderley head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 13 | 67.6th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 25 | 88.9th |
| Studio albums | 18 | 95.8th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 21 | 94.3th |
| Recording span (years) | 24 | 53.9th |
| Genres | 14 | 98.6th |
Awards & honours
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milton Banana Trio(band) | — | present | |
| Walter Wanderley & His Orchestra(band) | — | present | eponymous,original |
| The Walter Wanderley Trio(band) | — | present |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Walter_Wanderly_Group.pngaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/9e031ad0-8f7f-44ab-905e-6ed093eca2e3discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/9e031ad0-8f7f-44ab-905e-6ed093eca2e3core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q637373genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q637373seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Wanderleybiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Wanderley
Why this artist is in the database
- List of Brazilian musicians
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Author unknown · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q637373 · MusicBrainz: 9e031ad0-8f7f-44ab-905e-6ed093eca2e3
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