Trio Odemira was a Portuguese band founded in 1955.
1955-1967
The brothers Júlio and Carlos Costa were still new to Odemira. The group Dois Odemira appeared in 1955, when they won a competition for new talents promoted by the radio program Companheiros da Alegria, by Igrejas Caeiro.
That same year, they failed to join Emissora Nacional.
They became Trio Odemira with the entry of José Ribeiro, who spent 22 years in the group.
The first LP was recorded in 1957 by Valentim de Carvalho, for Columbia. The album they recorded with “Rio Mira” became a great success, apart from the fact that the theme was banned by Rádio Renascença, because this rhapsody included a popular quatrain by an illiterate from Odemira, who prayed like this: «Ai if I had the freedom / That the flea has on the ‘sheet’/I would feel all the girls/This one is hard, that one is ‘moli’».
Soon after, songs such as “Ama, Coração e Vida” by Pedro Flor and “Malagueña” by Ernesto Lecoua followed.
In 1958, they made their first tour in Africa, passing through Angola, Belgian Congo, Mozambique and South Africa. In 1960, they performed in Bilbao and were part of the first Spanish television program.
In 1963, they performed in England, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. In 1965, they participated in the Asta – Convention in Hong Kong. They also performed in Thailand, Philippines, Japan, Israel and Greece. In 1967, they spent two months, with Tony de Matos, in the United States and Canada.
1968-1980
In 1969, they spent eight months in Montreal, at the best hotel in Canada, Place Ville, where they were invited to join the American Union of Artists.
They returned to Portugal in 1970 and bought two restaurants: O Timpanas (typical), in Alcântara, and Varanda do Chanceler (luxury), in Alfama.
In 1978, they sold the restaurants and returned to music with a vengeance.
1981-1990
In the 1980s, they achieved great success with songs such as “Maldita Tu, Ana Maria” and “O Anel de Engagement”. Juca joins the two brothers.
They participate in Carlos Paião’s latest album, Intervalo.
1990-2005
In 1993, EMI released the compilation 35 Springs: the First Recordings: 1957/1967.
In June 1998, they received the Medal of Merit from the municipality of Almada.
RTP recorded “45 Anos do Trio Odemira”, a show with Septeto Café that took place at Coliseu dos Recreios.
In 2005, they celebrated their 50th anniversary with the release of the album “Portugal Latino”. They recovered some of their hits, such as “As Minhas Mãos nas Tuas”, “Ala Vara del Camino” or “Anel de Engagement”, and South American rhythms, with themes such as “A Media Luz”, “La Cumparsita”, ” Si Piensas” or “Guantanamera”. They also recover two themes sung by Amália, “Foi Deus” (Alberto Janes), and “Novo Fado da Severa” (Frederico de Freitas/Júlio Dantas). The disc had the special participation of Vania Marotti, who collaborated on four songs.
2007-2021
For 2007, it was foreseen the edition of a group box that would also include a cartoon. Carlos Costa was a great collector of comics, having been one of the driving forces behind the publisher Época d’Ouro.
A book about the group and its history is launched. Editora Espacial releases the double CD “Grandes Êxitos – Trio Odemira – 50 anos”, which includes 6 unreleased songs and many other hits such as “Anel de Noivado”, “Nostalgia do Amor”, “Amor Com Amor Se Paga”, ” Those Eyes” or “Anxiety”.
In September 2016, the group was distinguished with the Cidade de Moura Merit and Excellence Award, in the area of Music.
In 2019, the trio celebrated the 60th anniversary of their career, with a performance at the Center for Arts and Shows in Figueira da Foz.
Carlos Costa died on March 7, 2021 and his brother Júlio Costa on March 12, 2021.
