Tia Surica

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

Iranette Ferreira Barcellos, Surica

Years Active

1944

Genres

samba, samba-enredo

Instruments

voice

Biography

Iranette Ferreira Barcellos, known artistically as Tia Surica, was born in Rio de Janeiro and became one of the greatest pillars of Brazilian music and samba. Since childhood, she has been connected to Portela, the samba school with which she has marched since she was four years old. Throughout her career, she established herself as a singer, interpreter, and one of the main guardians of Rio de Janeiro's samba traditions.

In 1966, she stood out by acting as lead singer for Portela's samba-enredo alongside fundamental names in our culture, such as Paulinho da Viola. Years later, at the invitation of Manacéa, she joined Portela's traditional Velha Guarda. Her home in Madureira, named Cafofo da Surica, became a historic meeting point for samba circles and popular culture celebrations, bringing together great composers such as Monarco.

Her relevance to samba was crowned with various honors, including the title of the first woman elected Cidadão Samba and the honorary presidency of Portela, a position she held until 2025. In addition to her musical contribution, Tia Surica also took her art to television and cinema, participating in productions such as the series Cidade dos Homens.

Discography

• Surica (2004)
• Tia Surica (2010)
• Moacyr Luz, Aldir Blanc, Monarco, Tia Surica & Martinho da Vila – Pirajá - Esquina Carioca - a Cozinha do Samba Ao Vivo (2013)
• Poderio de Oswaldo Cruz (2014)