Email admin steelguitarforum. The Steel Guitar Forum Store. Our Online Store. Nato Lima of Los Indios Tabajaras dies at Posted 17 Nov am. Posted 17 Nov pm. Posted 21 Nov am. Posted 21 Nov pm. Posted 6 Dec pm. Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic. Nato Lima has died in NY at I interviewed Nato for the Fretboard Journal back in What an amazing life he had!
You couldn't make up the events of his life. I remember the two brothers from their several apperances on the Johnny Carson Show in the 60's. What incredible talent and technique. I have heard the story that one of the brothers was walking through the South American jungle and found a guitar that had apparantley, droped out of an airplane.
He taught himself and his brther to play and that was the begining of the famous duo. I wonder if that is a true story or not? Not exactly. The real story is even more astounding: He and his brother were born into a large family of Tabajara indians in the northern Brazilian jungle in the s.
They were befriended by soldiers, one of whom was a guitarist. The family made an incredible 3, mile journey on foot to the southern coast, aquiring a guitar along the way and facing many hardships including the murder of Nato's aunt by bandits and his mother's death in childbirth. The brothers learned and played simple folk music for many years until being exposed to classical music.
From sheer desire, they taught themselves to read music and began to adapt classical music to the guitar. Their rendition of "Maria Elena" was a huge hit record in the early 60s. Nato is an unbelievable autodidact and teacher.
