Biography
A gifted samba composer unearthed during the closing years of the 1970s, Beto Sem Braço saw numerous leading interpreters and songwriters of the style commit his pieces to disc. While affiliated with the Ala de Compositores at Império Serrano, he supplied the school’s most celebrated samba enredo, “Bum, Bum Baticumbum, Prugurundum,” co-authored with Aloísio Machado. An equestrian accident that cost him an arm produced the sobriquet by which he became known. Like countless other gifted shantytown songwriters whose recognition arrived only after middle age, Beto Sem Braço owed his wider exposure to Beth Carvalho, who introduced him on the 1978 album De Pé no Chão with the track “Marcando Bobeira,” written alongside Dão and João Quadrado.
The following year Almir Guineto placed “Lindo Requebrado,” a collaboration involving Carlos Senna and Adalto Magalha, on the LP Jeito de Amar. In 1980 Paulinho Mocidade recorded “Põe Pimenta,” penned with Jorginho Saberás, for Se O Caminho é Meu. Beth Carvalho also featured “Quando o Povo Entra na Dança,” composed with Carlito Cavalcanti, on Sentimento Brasileiro that same year and, on Na Fonte, the song “Escasseia” created with Aluísio Machado and Zé do Maranhão; she later scored one of her signature successes with “Camarão Que Dorme a Onda Leva,” written together with Zeca Pagodinho and Arlindo Cruz, which appeared on Suor no Rosto in 1983. Carvalho revisited the catalog in 1984, joining Martinho da Vila for “São José de Madureira,” again co-written with Zeca Pagodinho.
Two years afterward Zeca Pagodinho cut four new titles—“Quando Eu Contar, Iaiá” (with Serginho Meriti), “Vou Lhe Deixar no Sereno” (with Jorginho Saberás), “Cidade do Pé Junto,” and “Brincadeira Tem Hora,” the last two also with Zeca Pagodinho. Concurrently, Carlos Sapato recorded “Papagaio,” a partnership with Almir Guineto and Luverci Ernesto; the number surfaced on the compilation Explosão do Pagode and attained nationwide reach. Almir Guineto himself added “Quem Me Guia” (with Serginho Meriti) and “Flecha do Cupido” (with Guará da Empresa) to his repertoire. In 1987 Dominguinhos do Estácio included “Dura Prova,” fashioned with Serginho Meriti and Aloísio Machado, on Bom Ambiente, while Reinaldo offered “Coco de Catolé,” written with Joel Menezes, on Aquela Imagem. That year also brought Alcione’s reading of “Na Paz de Deus” (with Sombrinha and Arlindo Cruz), Jovelina Pérola Negra’s performances of “Feira de São Cristóvão” (with Bandeira Brasil) and “Calango do Morro” (with Paulo Vizinho) on Luz do Repente, Almir Guineto’s “Coisa da Roça” (co-written with Beto Sem Braço) on Perfume de Champanhe, and Exporta Samba’s accounts of “Daltônico Varela” (with Serginho Meriti), “Samba em Berlim,” and “Morena do Canjerê,” the final pair both with Joel Menezes.
Elza Soares recorded “Erê,” another Bandeira Brasil collaboration, for her 1988 album Voltei, and Zeca Pagodinho delivered “Manera, Mané,” fashioned with Serginho Meriti and Arlindo Cruz, on Jeito Moleque. Zeca Pagodinho next recorded “Aonde Será Que Eu Vá,” created with Martinho da Vila, for the 1990 CD Mania de Gente and, six years later, “Boi” (with J. C. Santos) on Deixa Clarear; he later revisited both “Camarão Que Dorme a Onda Leva” and “São José de Madureira” on the 1999 live set Ao Vivo. Also in 1999 Leci Brandão recorded “Com Toda Essa Gente,” written with Dudu Nobre and Zeca Pagodinho, for Auto-Estima. In 2000 Zeca Pagodinho placed “A Paisagem” on Água da Minha Sede.
The following year Almir Guineto placed “Lindo Requebrado,” a collaboration involving Carlos Senna and Adalto Magalha, on the LP Jeito de Amar. In 1980 Paulinho Mocidade recorded “Põe Pimenta,” penned with Jorginho Saberás, for Se O Caminho é Meu. Beth Carvalho also featured “Quando o Povo Entra na Dança,” composed with Carlito Cavalcanti, on Sentimento Brasileiro that same year and, on Na Fonte, the song “Escasseia” created with Aluísio Machado and Zé do Maranhão; she later scored one of her signature successes with “Camarão Que Dorme a Onda Leva,” written together with Zeca Pagodinho and Arlindo Cruz, which appeared on Suor no Rosto in 1983. Carvalho revisited the catalog in 1984, joining Martinho da Vila for “São José de Madureira,” again co-written with Zeca Pagodinho.
Two years afterward Zeca Pagodinho cut four new titles—“Quando Eu Contar, Iaiá” (with Serginho Meriti), “Vou Lhe Deixar no Sereno” (with Jorginho Saberás), “Cidade do Pé Junto,” and “Brincadeira Tem Hora,” the last two also with Zeca Pagodinho. Concurrently, Carlos Sapato recorded “Papagaio,” a partnership with Almir Guineto and Luverci Ernesto; the number surfaced on the compilation Explosão do Pagode and attained nationwide reach. Almir Guineto himself added “Quem Me Guia” (with Serginho Meriti) and “Flecha do Cupido” (with Guará da Empresa) to his repertoire. In 1987 Dominguinhos do Estácio included “Dura Prova,” fashioned with Serginho Meriti and Aloísio Machado, on Bom Ambiente, while Reinaldo offered “Coco de Catolé,” written with Joel Menezes, on Aquela Imagem. That year also brought Alcione’s reading of “Na Paz de Deus” (with Sombrinha and Arlindo Cruz), Jovelina Pérola Negra’s performances of “Feira de São Cristóvão” (with Bandeira Brasil) and “Calango do Morro” (with Paulo Vizinho) on Luz do Repente, Almir Guineto’s “Coisa da Roça” (co-written with Beto Sem Braço) on Perfume de Champanhe, and Exporta Samba’s accounts of “Daltônico Varela” (with Serginho Meriti), “Samba em Berlim,” and “Morena do Canjerê,” the final pair both with Joel Menezes.
Elza Soares recorded “Erê,” another Bandeira Brasil collaboration, for her 1988 album Voltei, and Zeca Pagodinho delivered “Manera, Mané,” fashioned with Serginho Meriti and Arlindo Cruz, on Jeito Moleque. Zeca Pagodinho next recorded “Aonde Será Que Eu Vá,” created with Martinho da Vila, for the 1990 CD Mania de Gente and, six years later, “Boi” (with J. C. Santos) on Deixa Clarear; he later revisited both “Camarão Que Dorme a Onda Leva” and “São José de Madureira” on the 1999 live set Ao Vivo. Also in 1999 Leci Brandão recorded “Com Toda Essa Gente,” written with Dudu Nobre and Zeca Pagodinho, for Auto-Estima. In 2000 Zeca Pagodinho placed “A Paisagem” on Água da Minha Sede.