Laudir de Oliveira

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1960–2017

Genres

jazz, latin jazz, mpb, rock

Instruments

percussion, vocals

Biography

Laudir Soares de Oliveira was a renowned Brazilian percussionist and session musician, recognized globally as one of the most important figures in Latin and international percussion. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he spent significant parts of his life living abroad in the United States, Europe, and Mexico, spreading his deep knowledge of Afro-Brazilian rhythms to international audiences. Throughout his prolific career, he achieved international acclaim, notably winning a Grammy Award in 1976 as an official member of the rock band Chicago.

His career soared after he joined Sérgio Mendes's band, Brasil '77, following a fortuitous opportunity. This led to his extensive work in the United States and international stages, collaborating with legendary artists such as Joe Cocker, Nina Simone, The Jackson 5, Chick Corea, Carlos Santana, and Wayne Shorter. Back in Brazil and across the global scene, he also worked closely with prominent Brazilian musicians like Milton Nascimento, Hermeto Pascoal, Marcos Valle, and Paulo Moura, with whom he shared deep musical partnerships.

Beyond his performance work, Oliveira was a versatile artist, contributing as a dancer, actor, visual artist, and cultural director. He recorded extensively with artists such as Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, and Ithamara Koorax, leaving a lasting legacy on both jazz and Brazilian popular music. He remained active until his final days, participating in studio recordings with the Orquestra Afro-Brasileira and Urca Bossa Jazz shortly before passing away in 2017 while performing live on stage.