Paulo Emílio da Costa Leite

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Also known as

Paulo Emilio

Genres

samba, mpb

Biography

Paulo Emílio da Costa Leite, known artistically as Paulo Emílio, was a Brazilian lyricist and poet born in São Paulo on January 26, 1941. His work, although not vast in terms of self-recordings, left important marks on Brazilian popular music through his partnerships with other artists.

During his youth, Paulo Emílio spent time with figures such as Gonzaguinha and Márcio Proença at a boarding school in Pati do Alferes, in Rio de Janeiro. This companionship and his poetic sensibility led him down the path of composition. He also lived in Santa Rosa de Viterbo, in the interior of São Paulo, where he wrote two books that, unfortunately, remained unpublished. In addition to his work as a lyricist, Paulo Emílio also wrote articles for newspapers and composed soundtracks for television programs.

His career as a composer was marked by fruitful partnerships, especially with Marcello Lessa, with whom he wrote the samba-enredo "Tem que tirar da cabeça, o que não se pode tirar do bolso" for the Acadêmicos do Salgueiro samba school in 1986. Other notable compositions include "Azulão" and "São Sebastião," recorded by Marcello Lessa on a promotional single, featuring arrangements by Francisco Mário and participation from musicians such as Antonio Adolfo and Wilson das Neves. His song "Nação," in partnership with João Bosco and Aldir Blanc, was interpreted by Emílio Santiago and Clara Nunes, and later re-recorded by Emílio Santiago in a tribute to Aldir Blanc. Paulo Emílio passed away on December 30, 1990, leaving a legacy of poetic lyrics and significant collaborations in MPB.