Mauro Diniz

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1960

Genres

samba, pagode

Instruments

cavaquinho, acoustic guitar, vocals

Biography

Mauro Diniz was born in 1952 in Rio de Janeiro, specifically in the traditional samba neighborhood of Oswaldo Cruz. Following in the footsteps of his father, the legendary composer Monarco, Mauro showed an early talent for playing the cavaquinho as a child. Raised in a deeply musical environment where his mother Thereza was a choir member of the Portela traditional guard, he naturally gravitated toward the samba scene and the activities of Portela. Over the decades, he established himself as a notable arranger, composer, musician, and singer, contributing significantly to both samba and pagode genres. His career includes notable albums such as Raça Brasileira in 1985, Cantar a Paz in 1987, Simplesmente Mauro Diniz in 1990, Um Samba de Natal in 2000, and Apoteose ao Samba in 2003. He also won the National Carnival March Contest of Fundição Progresso in 2008 with the song "Volante e Cachaça não Combinam", written in partnership with Cláudio Jorge. In 2022, Mauro was invited to join the prestigious Velha Guarda da Portela, taking the vacant seat left by his father Monarco and cementing his lifelong dedication to traditional Brazilian samba alongside peers like Cláudio Jorge.