Martinho da Vila
An important composer of the samba of the hills, Martinho da Vila has written many successful sambas-enredo (the vehicles for the parades of the samba schools during the Carioca Carnival). As a composer and interpreter, he has recorded more than 30 LPs and CDs, some of which have sold over one million copies. His songs have been recorded by many interpreters, among them Simone, Beth Carvalho, Roberto Ribeiro, and Alcione.
At 13, da Vila began to frequent the Escola de Samba Aprendizes da Boca do Mato. At 15, he wrote the samba de terreiro "Piquenique." In 1957, he began to write one samba-enredo per year for his samba school's parade, beginning with "Carlos Gomes" that year, followed by "Tamandaré" (1958), "Machado de Assis" (1959), "Rui Barbosa na Conferência de Haia" (1960), and nine others in subsequent years. Along with the role of composer, he also was the mestre de harmonia of that school. In 1965, the school paraded to his samba "Construtores da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro," and the next year, he moved to G.R.E.S. Unidos de Vila Isabel (where he developed a new style of samba-enredo) and adopted the nickname Martinho da Vila. In 1967, he participated in the III FMPB with the partido-alto "Menina Moça." He also appeared in the show A Fina Flor do Samba at the Teatro Opinião (Rio), singing his songs. The samba school Unidos de Vila Isabel paraded that year with his "Carnaval de ilusões" (with Gemeu). In 1968 and 1969, he continued to have his sambas-enredo sung by escolas de samba, with Eliana Pittman (with Rodolfo de Souza) singing his "Laiá do Cais Dourado." In 1968, he appeared in the show Samba Autêntico, No. 1 and in the IV FMPB, with "Casa de bamba." The samba was included on his first LP, released in the same year through RCA Victor. A Voz do Samba (of which he was a member) recorded an LP of his songs in 1970. "Segure Tudo" reached the hit parade in 1972, and with "Canta, Canta, Minha Gente" and "Disritmia," he broke sales records in 1974. He continued composing the annual samba-enredo for the Unidos da Vila Isabel throughout the following years. Tá Delícia Tá Gostoso (Sony, 1995) sold 1.5 million copies. He had an entire album dedicated to his compositions by singer Simone in 1996 (Café com Leite). He launched new talents in the samba community, like Grupo Compasso da Vila and Roda de Saia, and the sambistas Agrião and Tiago Mocotó. Active as a Black awareness proponent, he encouraged interchanges with Africa in shows, lectures, and albums. Among his notable dates in the latter 20th century are Martinho Canta Martinho (1997) and O Pai Da Alegria (1999).
The 21st century began with one of his most acclaimed and best-selling recordings, 2000's Lusofonia, followed by Brazilian, South American, and African tours. He issued Da Vila Da Roça E Da Cidade in 2001; it was his final album for Sony. While Voz E Coração was issued by Butiquim in 2002, it was 2003's Conexões ao Vivo for MZA that began his longer association with EMI/Universal for several years and signaled his return to the charts. Da Vila's tours, on the other hand, were consistently sold out no matter where he played. Brasilatinidade was released in 2005, followed by a live rendition the following year. Da Vila slowed down on the touring a bit, concentrating on spending time with his grandchildren and initiating other projects -- though various labels filled in his catalog with reissues and compilations from throughout his career) until returning to the studio in 2010 and emerging with Filosofia de Vida. Its title track and charting lead single were a duet with Ana Carolina. Sony issued the 45th anniversary compilation 4.5 Atual in 2012, while da Vila participated in a slew of live various-artist albums including Rock in Rio Ao Vivo and Pirajá: Esquina Carioca, both appearing in 2013 but recorded earlier.
In 2014, he starred in the film biography O Samba directed by Georges Gachot, while his written biography, Martinho da Vila: Tradição e René was published in 2016. Not completely satisfied, he began another autobiography the following year with Kamille Viola, and released De Bem Com a Vida the following year. In 2018, in honor of da Vila's 80th birthday, Sony issued Alo Vila Isabeeeel, featuring a slew of current originals and a host younger guests including Maria Freitas, Mart'Nalia, Dunga, Claudio Jorge, and Andre Diniz.
© Alvaro Neder /TiVo
Similar artists
-
Canta Canta, Minha Gente! A Vila é de Martinho
MPB - Released by Sony Music Entertainment on 9 Mar 2022
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Verso E Reverso
Pop/Rock - Released by RCA Records Label on 30 Mar 1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Martinho Da Vila
Pop/Rock - Released by Sony BMG Music Entertainment on 13 Nov 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Criacões E Recriacões
Pop - Released by RCA Records Label on 13 Jan 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Filosofia de Vida - O Pequeno Burguês
Brazil - Released by MZA Music on 6 Dec 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Martinho Da Vila Da Roça E Da Cidade (Album Version)
Brazil - Released by Columbia on 10 Aug 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Acender as Velas
Samba - Released by Sony Music Entertainment on 11 May 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Martinho Da Vila - 20 Anos De Samba
Samba - Released by RCA Records Label on 6 Jun 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Batuqueiro
Pop/Rock - Released by RCA Records Label on 30 Mar 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Martinho Da Vila Isabel
Samba - Released by RCA Records Label on 13 Jan 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Conexões (Ao Vivo)
Brazil - Released by MZA Music on 17 Jul 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
Ao Rio De Janeiro
Pop - Released by Sony BMG Music Entertainment on 22 May 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Bandeira da Fé
Samba - Released by Sony Music Entertainment on 26 Oct 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rock In Rio (Ao Vivo)
Martinho da Vila, Emicida, Cidade Negra
World - Released by MZA Music on 7 Aug 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vocabulário de um Partideiro
Martinho da Vila, Zeca Pagodinho, Xande de Pilares
MPB - Released by Sony Music Entertainment on 9 Mar 2022
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Martinho Da Vila, Do Brasil E Do Mundo
Brazil - Released by MZA Music on 1 Jan 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo