Los Indios Tabajaras - Maria Elena (1962)

Los Indios Tabajaras was a guitar duo of two brothers from northern Brazil.

Their beginnings are not clear, though most stories have them becoming accomplished guitar players after finding a guitar near Ceará, Brazil. Playing in Rio de Janeiro, they found success as Natalicio and Antenor Lima - dressing in ceremonial Indian costumes. Using classical guitars and playing transcriptions of classical violin and piano works, they were soon playing all over South America.

Probably as early as 1943, RCA's Latin American arm signed them to a recording contract. In the early 1950s, they took a break from performing and went back to study the guitar. After returning to the stage later that same decade, they released an album in the United States on an RCA-owned label named Vox.

Throughout this period, they had a steady stream of releases on RCA in Mexico and one of these, a Mexican folk tune named "María Elena" (Lorenzo Barcelata; named after the wife of a Mexican president and recorded in 1958), became a steady seller, a success throughout Latin America and was finally re-released in the U.S. in 1962. It spent 14 weeks on the Hot 100 in the fall of 1963, four of which were in its top 10 in November 1963, and had similar success in the United Kingdom. Los Indios Tabajaras continued to tour throughout the Americas and Europe and in 1964 they had another release, "Always in My Heart". This failed to replicate the success of "Maria Elena" though it did make the Billboard Hot 100.

Their fluent guitar playing caught the ear of Chet Atkins and, along with pianist Floyd Cramer, they recorded an instrumental album in Nashville, Tennessee. They also recorded and released material with singer Don Gibson, including the song "Oh Lonesome Me".

RCA released albums by Los Indios Tabajaras into the 1980s. Though Antenor retired from performing, Natalicio Lima continued to perform into the 1990s with his wife, Michiko. He died in November 2009.

"María Elena" is a 1932 popular song written by Lorenzo Barcelata (Spanish words and music). It was published by Peer International Corporation of Mexico.[1] The English words by Bob Russell.

The song was dedicated to María Elena, the wife of Mexican President Emilio Portes Gil.

An instrumental version of the song was used for the background theme of the film Bordertown, starring Paul Muni and Bette Davis, in 1935. The next year the words and music were used in the Mexican film María Elena.

Lawrence Welk later introduced the tune in the United States on his radio program, then in 1941 on the Okeh Records label.

The song was a hit for the Jimmy Dorsey orchestra with Bob Eberly doing the vocals. The recording was made on March 19, 1941 by Decca Records as catalog number 3698. The flip side was "Green Eyes." The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on May 16, 1941 and lasted 17 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1 on June 14, 1941. Since "Green Eyes" was also a #1 hit, this was a major double-sided hit recording. In the same year the Wayne King Orchestra also had a #2 hit with "Maria Elena".

An instrumental version was recorded in 1958 and released in the United States in 1962 by Natalico and Antenor Lima, better known as Los Indios Tabajaras. This popular revival hit #6 pop, #3 easy listening in 1963.

Ry Cooder performed an instrumental version of this song on his 1972 album Boomer's Story.

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Music

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• Indios
• Tabajaras
• Maria
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• Ceará
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[BeachbumFI]

This is such a beautiful song. It was my sister Vera Lee's favorite...

She went to be with the Lord on March 8, 2011.

This is in memory of her. Always in my heart ! "Sisters Forever"

[pawiolot]

kuchnia pełna niespodzianek;-)

[cruelnumber]

My father named me after this song....it was his favorite.

[allbiz2k10]

TO PC

[soundspur]

It must be 40 years since I heard Los Indios Tabajaras! I bought a 45 single back then living in Argentina and don't remember which one. Was it Maria Elena? This was one of their best!

Superb Guitar players. Thank you for their History: I wanted to find out what happened to them: now I know.. Muchas gracias

[joakinelunico]

hermoso tema esto me hace acordar a mi padre k en pas descanse como le gustaba yo era muy chico en esa epoca tenia un disco simple k lindo k recuerdos.

[luismanueleligio]

MARIA ELENA LLEVA POR NOMBRE MI ESPOSA Y ESTE TEMA ME TRASLADA SIEMPRE A SU LADO CUANDO NO ESTA CONMIGO. ADORO ESTA INTERPRETACION. GRACIAS Y POR AHI LES ENCARGO UN TEMA QUE ME HA SIDO IMPOSIBLE ENCONTRAR, OJALA Y LO CONOZCAN "VACACIONES EN MEXICO O LUNA DE MIEL EN MEXICO" NO SE QUIEN INTERPRETE. GRACIAS.

[ryannewesterbrink]

My name is Maria Elena, thanx to my dad who loved this song.

[australia703]

My parents loved this piece of music and I still have fond memories of all our families getting together at our place with the drinks flowing and listening to music such as this. Memories that will never be erased. Love You Mum and Dad plus all Aunts and Uncles.

[FAUSTO1942]

The Tabajara was a indian tribu in Brasil

[Totnam]

Absolutely love it. Ry Cooder did an excellent job with this track too.

[nigrev1974]

This song was the fav of my grandpa, so that's why of my name... and it rapresents my soul so good!