With a particular blend of traditional samba and humor, Os Originais do Samba became a commercial success, achieving three gold records for their hits "Tá Chegando Fevereiro" (Jorge Ben/João Melo), "Esperanças Perdidas" (Adeílton Alves/Délcio Carvalho), "O Lado Direito da Rua Direita" (Luís Carlos/Chiquinho), "É Preciso Cantar," and "Tragédia No Fundo do Mar" (Zeré/Ibraim). They also had hits with "Cadê Teresa" (Jorge Ben), "A Dona do Primeiro Andar," and "Nego Véio Quando Morre." They performed shows with such artists as Elis Regina, Duke Ellington, Earl Grant, Paulinho da Viola, and Jorge Ben Jor, among others, and recorded albums with Chico Buarque, Toquinho/Vinícius de Moraes, Martinho da Vila, and Jair Rodrigues. Os Originais do Samba was the first samba group to perform and record at the Olympia in Paris, France, also performing at the Carnaval Friends of Brazil Club in San Francisco, CA. The group enjoyed continued success in Brazil and abroad in its second formation. The group started in 1960 as Os Sete Modernos do Samba. The next year they were invited by Carlos Machado to perform the show O Teu Cabelo Não Nega, about Lamartine Babo, and they changed their name to Os Originais do Samba. It was followed by a six-month stay in Mexico and performances in Puerto Rico and Brazil. After settling in São Paulo in 1968 they were invited to back Elis Regina in the I Bienal do Samba on the winning samba "Lapinha" (Baden Powell/Paulo César Pinheiro). Their first album came the next year, Os Originais do Samba (RCA Victor), followed by 18 others through 1997. In 1977 the group's formation was: Bigode (leader/pandeiro/vocals), Zeca do Cavaco (cavaquinho/banjo), Sócrates (guitar), Rubinho Lima (percussion), Valtinho Tato (percussion), and Gibi (reco-reco, tamborim). ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi