Arlindo Cruz dies aged 66, Flamengo pay tribute | OneFootball

Flamengo-loving artist, Arlindo Cruz, touched generations with talent and love for the club

The singer and songwriter Arlindo Cruz passed away this Friday (08), at the age of 66, due to the aftermath of a stroke. An icon of samba and a passionate supporter of Flamengo, the singer received a tribute from the club on social media. Arlindo was remembered as a symbol of Brazilian culture who always proudly exalted the Rubro-Negro.

READ:

"The Flamengo Regatta Club deeply regrets the death of the illustrious rubro-negro and Perfect Sambista, Arlindo Cruz, this Friday (08), at the age of 66. An icon of samba, multi-instrumentalist, brilliant composer and striking voice of Brazilian culture, Arlindo always carried the name of Flamengo with pride, touching generations with his talent and passion for the Most Loved. Our condolences to the family, friends, fans, and the entire samba nation. His legacy will remain alive in the stands, in the samba circles, and in the heart of the Rubro-Negra Nation," wrote Flamengo.

HOW DID FLAMENGO WIN ARLINDO CRUZ'S HEART?

Despite growing up in a Vasco family, Arlindo Cruz chose Flamengo as his great passion. In 1965, the year he received his first cavaquinho, the sambista watched a rubro-negra victory over Fluminense at Maracanã, a moment that marked the beginning of his relationship with the Most Loved.

In an interview with GE, Arlindo recalled his emotional involvement with football and the ups and downs as a supporter. "I was passionate, I cried when the team lost. That 6-0 game against Botafogo in 1972 was not easy. A guy who was dating my sister, Sidnei, was a Botafogo fan and took me. He teased me a lot. There was a goal from Jairzinho, Fischer, an Argentine, also scored... They had a great time with us," he said. "On the other hand, I later watched the two sixes we gave them, by 6-0 and 6-1."

HOW DID THE PASSION FOR FLAMENGO MARK ARLINDO CRUZ'S CHILDHOOD?

In an interview given to Flamengo TV 12 years ago, Arlindo Cruz recalled, amid laughter, a curious childhood episode. The singer told that he received a radio as a birthday gift, but broke the device two months later, upset with a defeat of the rubro-negro team against São Cristóvão, at Gávea, precisely on the club's birthday.

"I got a radio on September 14th, with a red cover, very flamenguista. On November 15th, Flamengo lost. I was so upset that I threw the radio on the floor and broke everything," he said.

Next, Arlindo said that his mother, who gave him the gift, didn't like his attitude at all. "She gave me a beating. She said she hadn't even finished paying for it, that it was a sacrifice. But it wasn't anything violent, just to teach me a lesson."

At the end of the interview, Arlindo highlighted the importance of the stands for the Mengão. "The fans are always the 12th player. They complain when it goes bad, support when needed. All respect to the players, directors, and coaches, but Flamengo belongs to the fans."

HOW DID ARLINDO CRUZ LEAVE A LEGACY IN BRAZILIAN MUSIC?

Arlindo Domingos da Cruz Filho was born in Rio de Janeiro on September 14, 1958, and built a remarkable legacy in Brazilian music. Showing talent on the cavaquinho and banjo, the singer signed more than 550 compositions recorded by various artists. Among the main partners are Zeca Pagodinho, Sombrinha, Beth Carvalho, and Almir Guineto.

In March 2017, a hemorrhagic stroke hit Arlindo Cruz, causing sequelae that kept him away from the stages. Since then, the singer has undergone several hospitalizations and has not returned to perform.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.