Wilson Moreira
Encyclopedia
Wilson Moreira is a Brazilian sambista
, singer/songwriter, especially known for his exquisite and intricate melody lines.
, in Rio de Janeiro
. As a teenager he was associated with the samba school
Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel, where he won two samba-enredo
contests in 1962 and 1963. In 1968, Wilson became affiliated to samba school Portela.
Wilson has a prolific partnership with sambista Nei Lopes
. One of their greatest hits is the song "Senhora Liberdade", which became an anthem in the Brazilian Diretas movement for the institution of direct national elections in the 1980s. Some other famous songs from the duo are "Gotas de Veneno", "Sandália Amarela" and the non-samba "Candongueiro", which brings forward their African roots, with other successes as, e.g., "Meu Apelo", being signed by Wilson alone.
Wilson was a guest on many records, and released quite a few of them. Some of his records were released at first to the Japanese market and then to Brazil, since Wilson is very prominent in Japan. Brazilian virtuoso Raphael Rabello
was a big fan of Wilson, and took part in his records Peso na Balança and Okolofé, both of which are considered up to this day some of the best finished samba albums ever.
In March 1997 Wilson Moreira fell victim to a stroke which left him partially imobilized. Fund-raising shows were organized by the samba scene in order to obtain more resources for better treatments to the sambista. Wilson has since recovered and has already released a record, composing sambas in partnerships.
Individually:
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
, singer/songwriter, especially known for his exquisite and intricate melody lines.
Biography
Wilson Moreira was born in the neighborhood of RealengoRealengo
Realengo is a neighborhood in northern Rio de Janeiro. The lower and middle class neighborhood is between the Mendanha and Pedra Branca mountains...
, in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
. As a teenager he was associated with the samba school
Samba school
A samba school is a club or dancing school. They practice and often perform in huge square-compounds devoted to practicing and exhibiting samba, an African-Brazilian dance. The schools are traditionally associated with a particular neighborhood, often shanty towns...
Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel, where he won two samba-enredo
Samba-enredo
Samba-enredo is a sub-genre of Samba in which songs are performed by a samba school for the festivities of Carnaval. "Samba-enredo" is the Portuguese equivalent of "samba in song", or "song samba"....
contests in 1962 and 1963. In 1968, Wilson became affiliated to samba school Portela.
Wilson has a prolific partnership with sambista Nei Lopes
Nei Lopes
Nei Braz Lopes is a singer, composer, lawyer, writer and historian, working primarily with the Brazilian genre of samba and African-Brazilian studies.-Biography:...
. One of their greatest hits is the song "Senhora Liberdade", which became an anthem in the Brazilian Diretas movement for the institution of direct national elections in the 1980s. Some other famous songs from the duo are "Gotas de Veneno", "Sandália Amarela" and the non-samba "Candongueiro", which brings forward their African roots, with other successes as, e.g., "Meu Apelo", being signed by Wilson alone.
Wilson was a guest on many records, and released quite a few of them. Some of his records were released at first to the Japanese market and then to Brazil, since Wilson is very prominent in Japan. Brazilian virtuoso Raphael Rabello
Rafael Rabello
Rafael Baptista Rabello , was a virtuoso Brazilian guitarist and composer. During the 1980s and 1990s, he was considered one of the best acoustic guitar players in the world and played with many famous artists, such as Tom Jobim, Ney Matogrosso, Paulo Moura and Paco de Lucia.-Early years:Raphael...
was a big fan of Wilson, and took part in his records Peso na Balança and Okolofé, both of which are considered up to this day some of the best finished samba albums ever.
In March 1997 Wilson Moreira fell victim to a stroke which left him partially imobilized. Fund-raising shows were organized by the samba scene in order to obtain more resources for better treatments to the sambista. Wilson has since recovered and has already released a record, composing sambas in partnerships.
Discography
With Nei Lopes:- 1980 - A Arte Negra de Wilson Moreira & Nei Lopes - EMI
- 1985 - O Partido Muito Alto de Wilson Moreira & Nei Lopes - EMI
Individually:
- 1987 - Peso na Balança - Bomba Records
- 1991 - Okolofé - Bomba Records
- 2002 - Entidades I - Rádio MEC