2000

Moreira was born in Rio de Janeiro to a trombonist who died when the kid was 11, forcing da Silva to drop out of school and make a living on his own. He was a factory worker and a cab and ambulance driver, at the same time living the nightlife among bohemians and rascals. Moreira debuted as a musician in 1931; soon, he was working on the radio, making records and playing live. A big hit came in 1935, with the song "Implorar" (Kid Pepe/ G. Augusto/ J.S. Gaspar). Well-known by writing and performing sambas de breque (literally, broken sambas), he eventually became the greatest name within the genre. His first improvised intervention in a samba interval (a break) is supposed to have happened in 1937, in the samba "Jogo Proibido" (T. Silva/ D. Silva/ R. Cunha). Other big hits were "Acertei no Milhar" (Wilson Batista/ Geraldo Pereira), "Amigo Urso" (Henrique Gonçalves), "Fui a Paris" (with R. Cunha), "Na Subida do Morro" (with R. Cunha). His fame as a rascal helped shape the character Kid Morengueira - Moreira’s alter ego – present in many of his recordings. He released several albums along his career. In 1996, Alexandre Augusto put out Moreira’s biography, "Moreira da Silva - O Último dos Malandros". The singer/composer died in 2000.