Born in Ipoema (Brasil) the 24th of June 1962. Initially self- taught, he has attended, in 1983, percussion and theory classes in Minas Music School (owned by Milton Nascimento) with teacher Paulo Sergio Santos (UAKTI). Between 1982 and 1983 he has done musical history research in several Northern and northeastern states of Brasil. In the same year he starts to collaborate with some theatrical companies, then accompanied in later years, among which: Chico Buarque of Holanda’s “CALABAR” (1983 tour), Jose Neto’s “MAHA CATU” with the Grupo Curare (83/84 tour), “MAHAT SADE” with the UFMG group.
In Belo Horizonte, his city of residence until 1985, he has played in the most different formations and tendencies, though always remaining in the brasilian music field, holding concerts the Pontaleti and Jacare Amorim groups, with singers like Titane, Maurizio Tizumba, Marcos Buzana and many others. He has collaborated with the Senegalese percussionist Mamur Eliname Bà and with the guitarist Gilvan de Oliveira.

In Brasil he has recorded with: Sandra Reis, Titane, Gilvan de Oliveira, Carl Clives, Oscar Neves, Maurizio Tizumba, Marcelo Diniz and others.

In 1985 he has moved to Europe and in particular to Italy where he has worked with the groups Tomato (italian pop), Samambaia (brasilian pop), Celso Machado ( brasilian guitarist), Franco Bramati (Italian flamenco guitarist), Chande ( fantastic latin fusion group with Walter Calloni, Stefano Cerri, Candelo Cabeza), Brasiliance Trio ( instrumental music for 2 guitars and percussion), Nenè Ribeiro, Balem Lopaz de Munaim ( Spanish guitarist), Marcella Bella (Italian pop), Franco Mussida (former PFM), Tullio de Piscopo, Cico Moreno, Mama Di ( African music), Dom Um Romao ( legendary brasilian percussionist), Rosa Emilia ( Bossa Nova), Antonio Breschi (Hispanic folk-jazz pianist), Ziryab ( andaluse- arab), Carlos “El Rumbero” ( flamenco singer and guitarist), Giobbe Covatta, Flavio Boltro (jazz), Latin Touch ( brazilian jazz), Attilio Zanchi ( jazz), Sergio Caputo (Italian pop), Josè Feliciano, Rumpile, Trio Kinkoba (afromusic), Miguel Bosè, Ana Torroja (Spanish pop), Piero Ponzo.

In Europe he has recorded with: Tomato, Alice, Cico Moreno, Carlos “El Rumbero”, I Bravo, Laura Fedele, Michele Papaia, Pitura Fresca, Linea C, Mau Mau, Kinkoba, Andrea Donati, Massimo Colombo, The Great Naco Orchestra, Banda Ionica, Luiz Lima, Alfredo De La Fe, Titane, Nene Ribeiro, Alberto Cesi e canto Vivo, Giorgio Li Calzi, Latin Touch, Kal dos Santos, Miguel Bosè, Ana Torroja, Ney Portilho, Piero Ponzo.

He has founded with Kal dos Santos “Mitoka Samba”, the first “Escola de Samba” in Italy centered in Milan.

He has held latin percussion stages in Italy and various European countries.

He has been a professor at the NAMM and CPM of Milan and is now professor at the CDM (Didactic Center of Musicdancetheatre) in Rovereto (Turin).

From 1993 to the year 2001 he was an endorser for the MAINL percussion company (Germany).

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last update at sept. 2004