Paulinho da Viola
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Paulinho da Viola (born Paulo César Batista de Faria on November 12, 1942) is a Brazilian sambista, singer/songwriter, guitar, cavaquinho and mandolin player, known for his sophisticated harmonies and soft, gentle singing voice
[edit] Biography
Born in Rio de Janeiro to a family deeply rooted in the samba tradition, Paulinho met and befriended much of Rio's samba elite as a child. His father was a guitar player and musicians like Pixinguinha and Jacob do Bandolim would often come to his house for rehearsals, which Paulinho watched for hours on end. After the rehearsals, Paulinho would pick up his father's guitar and strum the few chords he knew. Later, as a teenager, he was frequently seen at jams at Jacob do Bandolim's house, quietly and attentively observing the older, more experienced musicians. He began writing his own songs as a teenager, but never considered a career as a professional musician until he met poet Hermínio Bello de Carvalho in 1964. By then, Paulinho was working as a teller at a bank in Rio de Janeiro, and recognised Hermínio from the jam sessions at Jacob do Bandolim's house. The two became close friends and soon began writing music together. The first song they wrote together was Duvide-o-dó, recorded by singer Isaurinha Garcia. He then began performing his own songs at a restaurant in Rio, owned by samba legend Cartola and his wife.
He got his famous nickname in 1965, when he was a member of the samba group A Voz do Morro (the voice of the hills), alongside Zé Keti and Oscar Bigode. After their first recording session, a publicist from the record label reportedly told him "'Paulo César' is not a samba name!". Zé Keti and journalist Sérgio Cabral eventually came up with the nickname "Paulinho da Viola" (something to the lines of "Guitar Paul").
By the 1970s, Paulinho was at the most prolific stage of his career, releasing an average of one album per year. He was already a household name in samba, choro and MPB circles and broadened his audience by touring all over Brazil and also playing at festivals in Europe and the U.S.. His productivity and popularity had waned by the mid-80s, when he decided to focus more on his songwriting. In 1996 he regained notoriety after releasing the much-acclaimed album Bebadosamba, in which he once again joined forces with Hermínio Bello de Carvalho and Elton Medeiros, his early songwriting partners.
A 2003 documentary called “Meu Tempo é Hoje” (My Time is Now) depicted his personal and public lives, including his relationship with his native Rio de Janeiro and its samba community. “The film depicts, both with enthusiasm and restraint, the life of a true prince,” wrote Brazilian journalist and critic José Nêummane in a review.
He still lives in Rio de Janeiro and performs around Brazil.
[edit] Discography
- 1965 - Rosa de Ouro
- 1965 - Roda de Samba, Conjunto "A voz do morro"
- 1966 - Roda de Samba Vol.2
- 1967 - Rosa de Ouro Vol.2
- 1968 - Os Sambistas, conjunto "A voz do morro"
- 1968 - Samba na Madrugada, Paulinho da Viola and Elton Medeiros
- 1968 - Paulinho da Viola
- 1970 - Foi Um Rio Que Passou em Minha Vida
- 1971 - Paulinho da Viola
- 1971 - Paulinho da Viola
- 1972 - Dança da Solidão
- 1973 - Nervos de Aço
- 1975 - Paulinho da Viola, also known as "Amor à Natureza"
- 1976 - Memórias Chorando
- 1976 - Memórias Cantando
- 1978 - Paulinho da Viola
- 1979 - Zumbido
- 1981 - Paulinho da Viola
- 1982 - A Toda Hora Rola Uma estória
- 1983 - Prisma Luminoso
- 1989 - Eu canto Samba
- 1993 - Paulinho da Viola (International)
- 1996 - Bebadosamba
- 1997 - Bebadachama (Live)
- 1999 - Sinal Aberto com Toquinho
- 2003 - Meu tempo é Hoje (Soundtrack)
- 2007 - Acústico MTV (MTV Unplugged, will be released in october)
