"From when I was a child, I always knew I wanted to be a singer," explains the legendary sambista. "At times, I wasn't sure if I would earn any money from my singing, but I knew that this was what I wanted to do with my life." Neguinho da Beija Flor, like so many of Brazil's top artists, grew up in a musical family. "My father played the trumpet, the same instrument as Louis Armstrong," he remembers. "What was my original goal. I wanted to sing and play that trumpet just like Louis Armstrong."

In 1970, he joined his first carnaval bloco, Leão de Iguaçu, and by 1975, he had joined the famed Beija Flor, a samba school that is perennial near the top of the carnaval competitions in Rio. Neguinho da Bieja Flor's recording career began in 1980 and was quickly picked up by Brazil's division of Sony Records.

In 2001, Beija Flor de Nilópolis, under the musical direction of Neguinho da Beija Flor, fell just ½ of a point short of winning the title at Carnaval with their spectacular presentation dedicated to African history, ancient wars, weddings, the Dahomey kingdom, and the Vodun religion. Consequently, Beija Flor's response to the champions, Imperatriz, and to samba lovers everywhere, "Just wait until next year."

Contributed by: Dan Rosenberg