Roberto Paiva

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

Helim Silveira Neves

Years Active

1938–1974

Genres

samba, marchinha, bolero, waltz, fox-blue, fox-canção, tango, toada, samba-canção

Biography

Helim Silveira Neves, artistically known as Roberto Paiva, was born in Rio de Janeiro on February 8, 1921. His musical career began in his teens, after winning a talent show on Rádio Clube Fluminense, in Niterói, performing the waltz "A Você". In 1938, at age 17, he recorded his first album with Odeon, featuring the samba "Último Samba" and the waltz "Jardim das Flores Raras". His trajectory was marked by versatility, moving between samba, carnival marchinhas, and romantic songs.

Paiva was one of the first to record the soundtrack for the play "Orfeu da Conceição", by Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes, in 1956, a milestone in his career. He also scored hits such as "O Trem Atrasou", which became a major carnival hit in 1941. Throughout his career, Roberto Paiva was praised by composers like Geraldo Pereira and Nelson Cavaquinho, who saw in his voice the ideal interpretation for their works.

His career spanned decades, with recordings on labels such as Odeon, RCA Victor, and Continental. In 1974, he participated in the TV Cultura show "MPB Especial", performing songs by great names like Ataulfo Alves, Noel Rosa, and Geraldo Pereira. Roberto Paiva passed away on August 1, 2014, in Rio de Janeiro, leaving an important legacy in Brazilian popular music.

Discography

• Um Galho de Acacias / Minas Gerais (1945)
• Trio Melodia (3) / Roberto Paiva & Trio Melodia – De Papo P'ro Ar / Pregões Cariocas (1945)
• Marcha do Conselho / Não Importa (1953)
• Francisco Egydio, Roberto Paiva – Polêmica (1956)
• Orfeu da Conceição (1956)
• Noel Rosa x Wilson Baptista (2017)
• Polêmica - Batalha musical da década 30 (2023)
• As Mais Belas Valsas (2024)
• Roberto Paiva, Dircinha Batista – Ronda Musical de las Americas
• Escreve-Me / Sorriso de Cristal
• É Meu Destino Amar / O Terceiro Homem
• Há Quanto Tempo / Subúrbio