Mestre Trambique

Origin

Rio Novo, MG

Also known as

Zé Tambique, Trambique, José Belmiro Lima, Zé Trambique, Zezinho Trambique

Years active

1963–2016

Genres

samba, pagode, carnival music

Instruments

percussion, rhythm, surdo, pandeiro, tamborim, cuíca, agogô, reco-reco, repique de mão, repique de anel, tantã, rebolo, ganzá, chocalho, atabaque, caixa

Biography

José Belmiro Lima, widely known as Mestre Trambique, was a prominent Brazilian percussionist, rhythmist, and composer, born in Rio Novo, Minas Gerais, on May 19, 1945. He moved to Rio de Janeiro with his family before his first birthday and began his musical journey at the age of 16, frequenting the quadra of the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school and performing as a rhythmist in shows. He became a master of the bateria (drum section) for Unidos de Vila Isabel, and in 1978, he founded the Bateria Mirim da Vila Isabel, which later evolved into the Escola de Samba Mirim Herdeiros da Vila Isabel. This initiative aimed to provide opportunities for children in the community and train future musicians.

Mestre Trambique's career as a professional musician began in 1963. He was an integral part of the Brazilian music scene, collaborating with numerous renowned artists. In 1978, he was part of the support band for Cartola, Dona Zica, Cláudia Savajet, and Carlinhos Vergueiro during the "Projeto Pixinguinha" tour in the North of Brazil. As a composer, his samba "Na aba," co-written with Ney Silva and Paulinho Correia, was first recorded in 1982 by Bezerra da Silva and later became a national hit when re-recorded by Martinho da Vila in 1984, even giving rise to a popular catchphrase. His contributions were recognized with the "Estandarte de Ouro" award from Jornal O Globo in 1988 for "Male Personality."

Throughout his career, Mestre Trambique played with a vast array of Brazilian musicians, including Wilson das Neves, Mário Lago, Cartola, Martinho da Vila, Ney Matogrosso, João Nogueira, and Teresa Cristina, among many others. From 2003 onwards, he was a member of the group Semente, which helped launch the career of singer Teresa Cristina. Mestre Trambique passed away on February 22, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, leaving behind a significant legacy as one of Brazil's greatest percussionists and a dedicated educator in the samba community.