Moraes Moreira established Os Novos Baianos and served as its principal songwriter alongside lyricist Luís Galvão. After departing the ensemble he launched a thriving solo trajectory that yielded numerous albums consistently blending Bahia’s deep-rooted folklore with rock and pop elements. He also emerged as a tireless advocate for the Bahian Carnival, staging repertory-focused performances across the country. Numerous artists have interpreted his songs, among them Gal Costa, whose version of “Festa do Interior” became Brazil’s most-broadcast track of 1982, as well as Daniela Mercury, Fagner, Simone, Zizi Possi, Ney Matogrosso, Elba Ramalho, and Marisa Monte.
Growing up in the Bahian interior, Moreira first took up the violão under the influence of Roberto Carlos. At nineteen he relocated to Salvador, where he attended lessons at the Seminário de Música da Bahia. He subsequently entered the vocal quartet Canto Quatro, an MPB-4-styled group that backed Dorival Caymmi. While studying music with Tom Zé he developed a passion for the trios-elétricos. Living in a Salvador boarding house he met Paulinho Boca de Cantor and Luís Galvão, and together they founded Os Novos Baianos in 1968. Moreira exited the band in 1975 to pursue his solo path. The following year he joined the historic Trio Elétrico de Dodô e Osmar, the original Bahian trio, whose lineup then included a young yet already accomplished mandolinist, Armandinho. The collaboration proved enormously popular, prompting Moreira to compose frevos and sambas for the ensemble and establishing him as a leading champion of the Bahian Carnival. He produced two albums with the trio, the final release titled É a Massa. His 1978 single “Pombo Correio” climbed the national charts. In 1983 Moreira created Projeto Brasil, a tour presenting concerts in every state capital that highlighted the Carnival traditions of Bahia.
