Américo Seixas

Origin

Propriá, SE

Genres

música popular brasileira, samba

Biography

Américo Seixas was a notable Brazilian journalist, poet, and popular music composer, born in Propriá, Sergipe. Relocating to Rio de Janeiro during his youth to pursue law studies, he became a familiar face at the iconic Café Nice. There, he spent years trying to pitch his compositions to artists before finally achieving success through a lasting friendship with lyricist Orestes Barbosa.

Throughout his life, Seixas balanced his creative pursuits with a career as a state civil servant, eventually settling in Niterói. Alongside his musical endeavors, he frequently published poetry and political verses reflecting the shifting landscape of Brazilian politics, including witty observations on the presidential transition from Juscelino Kubitschek to Jânio Quadros.

As a composer, he left a lasting mark on Brazilian popular music by collaborating with legendary figures such as Ataulfo Alves, with whom he wrote songs like "Infidelidade" and "Pavio da Verdade". His catalog also includes well-known successes such as "Vida de Bailarina" created alongside Dorival Silva, cementing his legacy in the tradition of samba and Brazilian popular song.