David Corrêa

Origin

São João de Meriti, RJ

Years active

1972

Genres

samba, pagode, samba-enredo

Instruments

vocals, guitar

Biography

David Antônio Corrêa was born in São João de Meriti, Rio de Janeiro, in 1937, and grew up in the Engenho de Bairro suburb. Steeped in musical tradition from a young age due to his father being an accordionist, he began writing songs in childhood and joined Portela's composer wing in 1972. He quickly became a towering figure in Rio de Janeiro's carnival culture, famous for breaking tradition by writing winning samba-enredos for multiple samba schools including Mangueira and Salgueiro, rather than remaining exclusively loyal to Portela.

Throughout his illustrious career, Corrêa penned iconic carnival anthems such as "Macunaíma, Herói de Nossa Gente" and "Das Maravilhas do Mar, Fez-se o Esplendor de Uma Noite," winning multiple Estandarte de Ouro awards. Beyond his carnival compositions, he released several solo albums exploring samba and pagode, featuring successful tracks like "Estrela de Oiá." His timeless compositions were widely recorded by legendary Brazilian artists such as Caetano Veloso, Maria Bethânia, and Elza Soares.

Corrêa remained active in the Brazilian musical landscape for decades, performing at major cultural events and collaborating with greats like Jamelão and Jorge Aragão. He passed away in May 2020 at the age of 82, leaving behind a rich legacy as both a gifted singer-songwriter and one of the most prolific composers in the history of samba-enredo.