Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Eumir Deodato got his start by playing the accordion at age twelve. Strictly self-taught, his first break came at 17 when he arranged and conducted his first recording session for a 28-piece orchestra. It wasn't long before Deodato became one of the most active and respected arrangers and pianists in Rio's busy music scene. In '68, he moved to New York and began working with Luiz Bonfa, while also doing extensive studio work for Astrud Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Marcos Valle and many other Brazilian artists living in the N.Y. at the time. He was hired by Creed Taylor to arrange for other CTI artists like Wes Montgomery, George Benson and Tom Jobim. His reputation in the fields of pop, soul and jazz was strengthened by his arrangement work for Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin and Kool & the Gang.

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