Xangô da Mangueira (January 19, 1923 - January 7, 2009)

(foto by Mari Viana)

As a researcher, especially one who just loves the "old school" sambas of the 1970s, it's especially sad to see another veteran go. Cats like Xangô da Mangueira, O Rei do Partido Alto (the King of the improvisatory style partido alto), are increasingly rare as they grow old and leave us. These are the old timers that made urban samba what it is today, influencing the last few generations of sambistas that have achieved far more fame and notoriety than their predecessors who paved the way...

As the son of migrants to Rio de Janeiro (his mother from Minas Gerais and father from São Paulo, I believe), Xangô brought to samba other regional influences. He also made use of traditional folk tunes and adapted them into original songs with improvisations.

(artwork by Lan)

I would like to leave you with a couple of selections from this GIANT of the form. You may even have heard these songs as recorded by other artists.


"Moro na roça" (traditional, adapted by Xangô da Mangueira, with Jorge Zagaia)


"Que samba é esse" (Jorginho [do Império? Must be since he also recorded this song in 1976])
Both tracks are from the album Rei do Partido Alto (1972)


"Você não é não" (Alcides "O Malandro Histórico" da Portela / Xangô da Mangueira)
from the album Chão da Mangueira (1982)

This last track is a collaboration between two artists from two legendary schools, Mangueira and Portela, the latter which I have written much about here in posts past. As they often say in samba circles when another legend leaves us: "That great big pagode in the sky just keeps getting better and better..."

Salve Xangô da Mangueira!!!