Antônio Vicente Filipe Celestino (12 September 1894 – 23 August 1968) was a Brazilian singer, composer and actor of Italian descent.

Life and career

Celestino was born in Rio de Janeiro, in the district of Santa Teresa, on 12 September 1894, although his birthdate was registered as 22 September. Son of Giuseppe Celestino and Serafina Gammaro, Italian immigrants from Calabria, he had eleven siblings. Five of them also became singers and one became an actor (Amadeu Celestino). From a humble background, Celestino worked since he was eight as a shoemaker, fishmonger, and newsboy. A fan of Enrico Caruso, Celestino started singing for acquaintances, at parties, beer halls, revues and serenades. He made his professional debut singing the waltz ''Flor do Mal'' at Teatro São José; his first album was released in 1915 by Odeon (Casa Edison). selling thousands of copies. A

tenor A tenor is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. The tenor's vocal range extends up to C5. The low extreme for tenors is wide ...

, Celestino toured across Brazil and recorded 137 78 RPM discs, ten compacts and 31 LPs. Celestino married movie director

Gilda de Abreu Gilda de Abreu (; 23 September 1904 – 4 June 1979) was a Brazilian actress, singer, writer and film director. Biography Born to a wealthy family, Gilda de Abreu began her career as a singer, performing in stage musicals and operettas. She fi ...

, who has directed him in two films: ''

O Ébrio ''O Ébrio'' is a Brazilian telenovela produced and broadcast by TV Globo TV Globo (, "Globe TV", or simply Globo), formerly known as Rede Globo, is a Brazilian free-to-air Television broadcasting, television network, launched by media propr ...

'' (1946) and '' Coração Materno'' (1951), named after and featuring his songs. Celestino died on 23 August, 1968, in São Paulo.

References

{{authority control 20th-century Brazilian male singers 20th-century Brazilian singers Brazilian male songwriters Brazilian male actors Brazilian people of Italian descent 1968 deaths 1894 births People from Rio de Janeiro (city)