Henrique de Almeida

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years Active

1930–1985

Genres

samba, baião, marcha

Instruments

percussion

Biography

Henrique de Almeida, stage name of Henrique Gonçalves da Silva, was born in Rio de Janeiro on February 10, 1917. He was orphaned at the age of seven and was initially raised by his great-aunt in Niterói, later moving to Rio de Janeiro with his maternal grandmother, whose tribute inspired his stage name. Working since his youth, he took jobs in hotels around Praça Tiradentes, an important bohemian stronghold at the time, which facilitated his contact with circles of musicians and the artistic universe.

Throughout his career, he stood out as a composer, lyricist, rhythmist, singer, and radio broadcaster, collaborating with great names in Brazilian music such as Adoniram Barbosa, Lupicínio Rodrigues, and Wilson Batista. His artistic output spanned various popular genres, leaving behind memorable compositions that marked the history of our music.

In addition to his creative work, Henrique de Almeida played a fundamental role in the organization and defense of copyright in the country. He was a founding member of SBACEM (Brazilian Society of Authors, Composers, and Music Publishers) and presided over ECAD (Central Office for Collection and Distribution) during the 1977/1978 and 1979/1980 bienmiums. He passed away in São Paulo on February 12, 1985, as a result of cardiac complications.

Discography

• Samba Songs (2006)