Velha Guarda da Portela

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1970–present

Genres

samba, mpb

Instruments

guitar, percussion, cavaco, voice

Biography

Velha Guarda da Portela is a renowned Brazilian musical group dedicated to samba, originally conceived by Paulinho da Viola to bring together the oldest and most traditional composers and performers of the GRES Portela samba school. The ensemble first gathered in 1970 for the recording of the seminal album Portela Passado de Glória, featuring an original lineup that included Aniceto da Portela, Mijinha, Manaceia, Alberto Lonato, and Chico Santana, among others. Following the success of this debut, the group began performing live and recording further collections of historical sambas deeply tied to their school's rich cultural heritage.

Over the subsequent decades, later formations incorporated celebrated figures such as Monarco, Jair do Cavaquinho, Argemiro, Casquinha, and traditional female vocalists known as pastoras like Tia Doca and Tia Surica. Their enduring influence led them to collaborate with numerous prominent Brazilian artists, including Beth Carvalho, Clara Nunes, Marisa Monte, and Zeca Pagodinho, bridging generational divides within the samba community. In March 2023, the cultural significance of the Velha Guarda da Portela was officially recognized when the group was named an intangible cultural heritage of the city of Rio de Janeiro.