Biography

One of the most active sambistas in history, composer of over 300 recorded songs, Noca da Portela is the creator of "Portela Querida" (interpreted by Elza Soares), "Isto Tem Que Acabar" (recorded by Ataulpho Alves Júnior), "Capital do Samba" (recorded by Eliana Pittman), "Condição" (registered by the MPB-4), and "A Queda" (recorded by Sônia Lemos). Some of the many interpreters that have recorded his songs are the Grupo Fundo de Quintal, Eliane Machado, Elza Soares, Beth Carvalho, Os Originais do Samba, and Jorginho do Império. At 15, Noca da Portela wrote the samba-enredo "O Grito do Ipiranga," that granted the maximum grade for the Unidos do Catete samba school in the Carnival contest. In 1958, as a singer and composer in the Trio Tropical, da Portela toured Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, and Bahia. For the Paraíso do Tuiuti samba school, he wrote several sambas-enredo like "Apoteose da Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras," "Os Imortais da MPB" (that he himself recorded through RCA Victor), "Rio, Carnaval e Batucada," and "Vida e Obra de Cecília Meirelles" (recorded by Jamelão). In 1966, da Portela accompanied Paulinho da Viola in the show Carnaval Para Principiantes at the Opinião theater. Invited by Paulinho da Viola, da Portela joined the Portela samba school, incorporating its denomination to his artistic name. Joining the Ala dos Compositores (Composers' Section) of that school, he formed the Trio ABC da Portela (with Picolino and Colombo), that performed throughout the country. The trio participated with two compositions in the II Concurso de Música de Carnaval (Carnival Song Contest), "Portela Querida" (interpreted by Elza Soares, who had a hit with it) and "É Bom Assim" (interpreted by Gasolina). In 1969, da Portela won the Carnival Contest of the Municipal Theater of São Paulo with "Chorei, Sofri, Penei." In 1976, da Portela had success with the samba-enredo "O Homem de Pacoval." Also in 1976, Beth Carvalho recorded "Meu Escudo" (with Délcio Carvalho); she would also record the samba "Virada," written with his son, Gilmar Vilela Pereira, under the pseudonym Gilpert. In 1985, his samba-enredo "Recordar é Viver" was chosen by Portela for the annual Carnival contest. In 1986, Alcione recorded "Vendaval da Vida" (with Délcio Carvalho). In 1989, Dominguinhos do Estácio recorded "Cena Final" (with Toninho Nascimento). His first CD, Brasilidade, was recorded in 1990. In 1995, da Portela won the Estandarte de Ouro prize with the samba "Gosto Que Me Enrosco" and Maria Bethânia recorded "Ilumina." In 1996, da Portela shared with Roberto Serrão the album Manda Me Chamar. In 1997, Paulinho da Viola recorded "Peregrino." In 1998, da Portela won the second Estandarte de Ouro with "Os Olhos da Noite," and in 1999, the third, with the samba "Pelos Caminhos de Minas Gerais." ~ Alvaro Neder