Jorginho do Pandeiro was born Jorge José da Silva on December 3, 1930 in Rio de Janeiro. He turns 80 years old this Friday and also celebrates a 66 year musical career, which is still going strong!

Jorginho is a living part of Brazilian music history and one of the fathers of modern pandeiro playing. He has performed and recorded with many of the greatest names in Brazilian music and his playing has influenced generations of pandeiro players that have come after him.

It's incredible that one can go see him playing as strong as ever today with his group Época de Ouro, and then go home and listen to recordings that he made decades ago with Cartola or Jacob do Bandolim. Not to mention others such as Sílvio Caldas, Clara Nunes, Elizeth Cardoso, Chico Buarque, Marisa Monte, Paulo Moura and Paulinho da Viola.

Aside from touring and performing regularly, Jorginho also gives workshops, including teaching at the Escola Portátil in Rio de Janeiro.

Pandeiro.com would like to wish Jorginho a very happy birthday and thank him for all that he has done for the instrument we all love so much. Viva Jorginho do Pandeiro!

There are three events currently scheduled in Rio de Janeiro to celebrate Jorginho's birthday, including a live radio broadcast which can be heard worldwide via the Internet:
Dec 03 - Rádio Nacional (5 - 7pm Rio de Janeiro time. Click "ao vivo"
Dec 06 - Centro Cultural Carioca
Dec 27 - Teatro Rival Petrobras
Please visit the events page for more information.

Here's a video playlist we put together in honor of this special moment:

If you'd like to follow Jorginho, he's on Facebook and Twitter.