1913

He met the pioneering members of samba school Mangueira as a child, joining the drum section as a tambourin player. He soon learned to play the cavaquinho and started singing, influenced by Cyro Monteiro. In 1945, he performed "Ai, Que Saudade da Amélia" (Ataulfo Alves/Mário Lago) on a talent show. He worked on the radio and in nightclubs, becoming a crooner with Severino Araújo's Orquestra Tabajara, touring around Europe. He became a successful samba artist, enjoying the hits "Fechei a Porta" (Sebastião Motta/ Ferreira dos Santos), "Leviana" (Zé Kéti), "Folha Morta" (Ary Barroso), "Não Põe a Mão" (P.S. Mutt/ A. Canegal/ B. Moreira), "Matriz ou Filial" (Lúcio Cardim), "Exaltação à Mangueira" (Enéas Brites/ Aluisio da Costa), "Eu Agora Sou Feliz" ( with Mestre Gato), "O Samba É Bom Assim" (Norival Reis/ Helio Nascimento) and "Quem Samba Fica" (with Tião Motorista). In the 1950s, he became the main singer on Mangeuira's parades, an activity that he keeps doing. He made two albums dedicated to the music of Lupiscínio Rodrigues: "Jamelão Interpreta Lupicínio Rodrigues" (1972) and "Recantando Mágoas - A Dor e Eu" (1987). In 1997, the label Continental released three CDs with his recordings, named "Jamelão - A Voz do Samba".