Pretinho da Serrinha
- Origin
- Rio de Janeiro, RJ
- Years active
- 2001
- Genres
- samba, MPB
- Instruments
- vocal, percussion, cavaquinho
Biography
Ângelo Vitor Simplício da Silva, widely known as Pretinho da Serrinha, is a Brazilian singer, arranger, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist born in Rio de Janeiro on August 30, 1978. He is recognized as one of the most important contemporary samba musicians and has worked as a producer and musical director for major names in MPB (Música Popular Brasileira). His musical journey began in his childhood in the Serrinha community, where he was exposed to samba rodas and learned percussion. His nickname "Pretinho" originated from the Jorge Ben Jor song "A banda do Zé Pretinho." By the age of ten, he was already directing the drum section of the Império do Futuro, a youth samba school associated with the traditional Império Serrano.
Pretinho da Serrinha's career gained significant momentum when he joined Dudu Nobre's band as a percussionist and musical director in 2003. He has since collaborated with a vast array of renowned Brazilian artists, including Seu Jorge, Caetano Veloso, Marisa Monte, Lulu Santos, Maria Rita, Beth Carvalho, Gilberto Gil, Chico Buarque, and Sergio Mendes, among many others. His talent as a cavaquinho player was particularly highlighted in Seu Jorge's song "Tive Razão." He has also made guest appearances in international shows, such as Alicia Keys' performance at Rock in Rio in 2017.
As a composer, Pretinho da Serrinha has penned hits like "Mina do Condomínio" and "Burguesinha," often in partnership with other artists. He released his first solo album, "Som de Madureira," in 2018, which featured collaborations with artists like Black Alien and Lulu Santos. His work as a producer and arranger has also been widely acclaimed, notably on Maria Rita's "Amor e Música" and Xande de Pilares' "Xande Canta Caetano," both of which received Latin Grammy Awards. Pretinho da Serrinha represents a bridge between traditional Rio de Janeiro samba and contemporary MPB, embodying resilience and cultural transformation through his multifaceted career.