Born in Senhor do Bonfim, Bahia (07/09/1939), Walter Santos was one of the key musicians in the bossa nova craze. He and João Gilberto were childhood friends in Juazeiro, Bahia, and in 1946 they founded together the vocal ensemble “Enamorados do Ritmo.” He moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1957, where he lived in the same motel as João Gilberto, Luís Carlos Paraná and other contemporary musicians. He taught guitar and played in night clubs, and eventually he married poet Tereza Souza, who wrote lyrics for several of his songs.

The following year (1958) he played in the album “Canção do Amor Demais”, released by Elizeth Cardoso, with songs by Tom and Vinicius, and which  today is considered the cornerstone of bossa nova.

One year later he moved to São Paulo—at the suggestion of his friend Luís Carlos Paraná—to play in the city of São Paulo. He never left, and bossa nova became a hit nationwide.

Along with his wife Tereza, he composed classics such as "Azul Contente", "Samba Só" and "Amanhã", which has been recorded by more than 30 artists over the years. As a matter of fact, singers like Elis Regina, Alaíde Costa, Dick Farney and Agostinho dos Santos, and instrumentalists like Hermeto Pascoal, Dom Salvador, Walter Wanderley and Milton Banana all have covered songs written by Santos.

Walter Santos passed away in São Paulo, on May 29, 2008.