Luiz Carlos da Vila (July 21, 1949 - October 20, 2008)

Hello, friends. It has been too long since my last post and I regret returning with a sad one... Just as I was preparing a paper presentation at the annual Society for Ethnomusicology conference, where I presented some of my research, I got word about Luiz Carlos da Vila's passing.

In my paper I quoted several songs that talk about "roots" and cited one of the great sambas of and about the Cacique de Ramos generation, "Doce refúgio" which I will post below. Luiz Carlos was one of its greatest proponents, having had his music recorded by dozens of artists. I was fortunate to see him sit in on several sambas over the last few years during my trips to Rio. I saw and met him only a few months before in my last weeks in Rio at Samba Luzia and he seemed in great spirit and good health. It is amazing how quickly that can change...

You can see this video dated August 2, 2008 (the day after I arrived back in Los Angeles) and it seems that Luiz Carlos was doing well and doing what he did best. In the video with him is none other than Mestre Wilson Moreira, and the Velha Guarda da Portela, among others.



Luiz Carlos was a great fan of Candeia, as am I. I would like to feature two of his best known sambas. The first, cited above, is like the anthem for the Cacique de Ramos generation, of which came such great artists the likes of Fundo de Quintal and Zeca Pagodinho. The song "Doce refúgio" was recorded on FDQ's second album in 1981. The next song is the title cut from a 1998 tribute album dedicated to the works of Candeia. in "A luz do vencedor" Luiz Carlos da Vila pays tribute to Candeia by adding his own last verse to one of Candeia's compositions.


"A luz de um vencedor" (Candeia/Luiz Carlos da Vila)
from the album A Luz de um Vencedor - Luiz Carlos da Vila Canta Candeia (1998)


"Doce refúgio" (Luiz Carlos da Vila) by Fundo de Quintal
from the album Samba é no Fundo de Quintal (1981)

Salve Luiz Carlos da Vila. Salve Cacique de Ramos!!!

*I do not have the name of the photographer! If you know please let me know.