Paulinho da Viola
- Origin
- Rio de Janeiro, RJ
- Years active
- 1962
- Genres
- samba, choro, MPB
- Instruments
- acoustic guitar, cavaquinho, mandolin, vocals
Biography
Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1942, Paulinho da Viola is a fundamental figure in Brazilian music, serving as a bridge between the traditional roots of samba and the modern evolution of MPB. The son of guitarist Benedicto Cesar Ramos de Faria, he grew up surrounded by legendary musicians like Pixinguinha and Jacob do Bandolim. Despite his father's initial reservations about a musical career, Paulinho taught himself guitar and eventually became a master of the cavaquinho and mandolin, developing a signature style characterized by sophisticated harmonies and a gentle vocal delivery.\n\nHis career took off in the 1960s through his involvement with the iconic Zicartola bar, founded by Cartola, and his participation in the musical 'Rosa de Ouro' alongside Clementina de Jesus. During this period, he became a central member of the group A Voz do Morro and established a lifelong connection with the Portela samba school. In 1969, he won the TV Record Festival with 'Sinal Fechado', a song that subtly captured the stifling atmosphere of the Brazilian military dictatorship through its fragmented structure and innovative use of silence.\n\nThroughout more than five decades of activity, he has maintained a dual path as a prolific songwriter of both samba and choro. He was instrumental in founding the Velha Guarda da Portela and has collaborated with eminent artists such as Elton Medeiros and Hermínio Bello de Carvalho. His work remains a touchstone for Brazilian culture, blending technical refinement with the popular essence of the hills of Rio.