Lago was born in Rio de Janeiro, son of the maestro Antônio Lago and Francisca Maria Vicencia Croccia Lago,[2] and grandson of the Italian anarchist and musician Giuseppe Croccia.[1]
Because of his political beliefs, Lago was imprisoned seven times - 1932, 1941, 1946, 1949, 1952, 1964 and 1969.[5]
He married Zeli, daughter of the communist militant Henrique Cordeiro, until her death in 1997.[6] The couple had five children: Antônio Henrique, Graça Maria, Mário Lago Filho, Luís Carlos (named after Luís Carlos Prestes) and Vanda. He was a supporter of Fluminense Football Club.[7]
Artistic career
Lago started on poetry with 15 years old, publishing a poem on the magazine "Fon-Fon [pt]".[8] He wrote revue plays and songs from 1933 to 1958, also acting in stage and radio plays, invited by fellow actor Joracy Camargo [pt].[1] With Braguinha, he wrote the screenplay for the 1939 film Banana da Terra, starring Carmen Miranda.[1]
The first song he wrote was "Menina, eu sei de uma coisa", in partnership with Custódio Mesquita [pt], recorded in 1935 by Mário Reis.[9] Three years later, Orlando Silva recorded Mario's song "Nada além".[10]
His best known works were "Ai! que saudade da Amélia", "Atire a primeira pedra", in partnership with Ataulfo Alves; "É tão gostoso, seu moço", with Chocolate, "Número um", with Benedito Lacerda, the samba "Fracasso" and the carnival song "Aurora", with Roberto Roberti, recorded by Carmen Miranda.[10]
In "Ai! que saudade da Amélia", the description of an idealized woman became so popular that "Amélia" became a synonym in Brazil for a submissive, resigned woman dedicated to housework.[11][12]