1937

Member of the first generation of bossa nova, Menescal was forced by his family to study piano during his childhood in Vitória (Espírito Santo, SE). Menescal also studied the accordion, harmonica and guitar, specializing in the latter. Menescal had harmony, arrangement and composition lessons with conductors Guerra-Peixe and Moacir Santos. Menescal settled in Rio de Janeiro, where he and Carlos Lyra founded a guitar academy. There, Menescal gave lessons, including to the bossa nova muse Nara Leão. In 1958 and 1959, he wrote his first songs and recorded tracks on the album "Os Garotos da Bossa Nova". Menescal made friends with Ronaldo Bôscoli, with whom he wrote one of his greatest hits, bossa nova anthem "O Barquinho", in 1961. In 1962, Menescal performed the song at the Bossa Nova Festival at Carnegie Hall, New York. Menescal and Bôscoli also composed "Você", "Vagamente", "Ah, Se Eu Pudesse", "Errinho à-toa" and "Nós e o Mar", among others. In the following years, Menescal founded his own group - Conjunto Roberto Menescal -, and accompanied musicians like Dorival Caymmi, Aracy de Almeida, Maysa and Silvinha Telles in their shows. Menescal has recorded with several artists and has toured all over the world playing bossa nova standards. In the 80’s and 90’s he worked mainly as a musical director and producer, promoting new talents.