It was around this time that Los Índios Tabajaras began to attract some attention, although there is a lot of murkiness (and probably quite a bit of hyperbole) in the origins of the duo. It's generally agreed that the Lima brothers were Brazilian Tabajaran Indians from the Amazon basin, and it was said that they were self-taught guitarists who'd learned to play on an instrument they found in the jungle. Whether that was true or not, they continued to learn and grow musically and began building a musical career in South America. Their talent and unique sound was impossible to deny, and after being signed to a contract by RCA they also became very popular in the US. RCA's own guitar guru, Chet Atkins, took a real interest in them, as did Don Gibson, and both collaborated on albums.
In subsequent years, the brothers sold millions of records world-wide and toured endlessly, playing everything from pop to light classical — including some of their own compositions — and often performing in native costume. Although their musical careers spanned many decades, they never again had an individual hit to approach the popularity of "Maria Elena", although their second biggest seller, "Always in My Heart", did very well. And truth be told, my favorite of theirs is neither of these. It's a song that has been recorded by many artists, and has always been a favorite of mine. It's called "Amor, Amor, Amor".
Whatever the truth of the origins of Los Indios Tabajaras, their musical legacy is not in dispute. Talent and originality will always show through.
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