Leãozinho

José Ribeiro do Vale took the stage name Leãozinho, or Little Lion, in the 1950s. He came from Morro dos Macacos, a poor neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, and started out playing on the streets. In 1963, his debut album included 'El Comancheiro,' a song about a love affair between a young boy and an older woman that became a hit across Brazil.

Leãozinho recorded more than thirty albums, with titles like 'O Menino da Porteira' and 'Eu Sou o Samba.' His music mixed samba, baião, and forró rhythms. He worked with artists like Luiz Gonzaga and Gal Costa, and his band included guitarist Milton Nascimento and drummer Chico dos Bonecos.

His performances sometimes involved heavy drinking and off-color jokes. In 1988 he was arrested for drunk driving and marijuana possession. Leãozinho died in 1994 at age sixty-two. Songs like 'Estrela' and 'Porque o Samba Não Pode Parar' are still played in Brazil.