Dicró

Origin

Nova Iguaçu, RJ

Also known as

Carlos Roberto de Oliveira

Genres

samba, MPB

Instruments

vocals, percussion

Biography

Dicró, artistic name of Carlos Roberto de Oliveira, was a renowned Brazilian singer and composer celebrated for his satirical sambas. Born in Nova Iguaçu, he grew up in the favela of Jacutinga immersed in traditional samba circles organized by his mother, a candomblé priestess. Alongside artists like Moreira da Silva, Osmar do Breque, Germano Mathias, and Bezerra da Silva, he established himself as a central figure in the humorous and satirical branch of Brazilian samba, often writing witty lyrics about everyday themes, including his mother-in-law.

Throughout his career, Dicró integrated the composer wings of prominent samba schools such as Beija-Flor and Grande Rio, earning his nickname from the typographical abbreviation of his birth initials, "CRO". Beyond his musical output, which included notable albums like "O Último Malandro" and collaborations with Bezerra da Silva and Moreira da Silva, he became a cultural fixture in Rio de Janeiro. He was a key promoter of the Piscinão de Ramos, where he maintained a popular trailer that served as a gathering spot for sambistas, and later worked with Rede Globo on the Fantástico television program.

Dicró passed away in April 2012 in Magé, following complications from diabetes and a heart attack. His legacy endures through his extensive discography and his unique contribution to samba humor, cementing his status as a beloved folk satirist. His work continues to be referenced alongside contemporaries who blended social critique with lighthearted comedy in Brazilian popular music.

Discography

• Barra Pesada (1978)
• Dicró (1979)
• O Professor (1981)
• Funeral do Ricardão (1984)
• Samba-Mix (1984)
• Duro na Queda (1986)
• Mister Dicró (1988)
• O Bingo da Sogra (1994)
• Moreira, Bezerra e Dicró – Os 3 Malandros In Concert (1995)
• Dicró no Piscinão (2002)
• O Gozador
• O Último Malandro