A talented samba composer discovered in the late '70s, Beto Sem Braço has had his creations recorded by several of the greatest contemporary interpreters and composers in this genre. When he was a member of the Ala de Compositores (Composers' Section) of the Império Serrano samba school, he wrote his most successful samba enredo, Bum, Bum Baticumbum, Prugurundum (with Aloíso Machado). Having lost an arm after a fall from a horse, he was given his nickname (Beto Without an Arm). Beto Sem Braço shared a common destiny with most talented composers of the shanty towns who were discovered beyond the borders of their communities only later in life. In his case it was Beth Carvalho, who presented him to a larger audience through her 1978 album De Pé no Chão, in which she recorded Marcando Bobeira (Beto Sem Braço/Dão/João Quadrado).

In the next year, Almir Guineto recorded Lindo Requebrado (Beto Sem Braço/Almir Guineto/Carlos Senna/Adalto Magalha) for his LP Jeito de Amar. In 1980, Paulinho Mocidade recorded Põe Pimenta (Beto Sem Braço/Jorginho Saberás) on the LP Se O Caminho é Meu. Beth Carvalho also recorded Quando o Povo Entra na Dança (with Carlito Cavalcanti) on her Sentimento Brasileiro (1980) record and Escasseia (with Aluísio Machado/Zé do Maranhão) on her LP Na Fonte, having one of her biggest hits with Camarão Que Dorme a Onda Leva (with Zeca Pagodinho/Arlindo Cruz) included on Suor no Rosto (1983). In 1984, Carvalho recorded São José de Madureira (with Zeca Pagodinho) with Martinho da Vila. Two years later, Zeca Pagodinho recorded Quando Eu Contar, Iaiá (with Serginho Meriti), Vou Lhe Deixar no Sereno (with Jorginho Saberás), Cidade do Pé Junto (with Zeca Pagodinho), and Brincadeira Tem Hora (with Zeca Pagodinho). That same year, Carlos Sapato recorded Papagaio (with Almir Guineto/Luverci Ernesto). The song was included in the collection Explosão do Pagode and reached national success. Almir Guineto then recorded Quem Me Guia (with Serginho Meriti) and Flecha do Cupido (with Almir Guineto/Guará da Empresa). In 1987, Dominguinhos do Estácio recorded Dura Prova (with Serginho Meriti/Aloísio Machado) for his LP Bom Ambiente, and Reinaldo put Coco de Catolé (with Joel Menezes) on his Aquela Imagem. In the same year, Alcione recorded Na Paz de Deus (with Sombrinha/Arlindo Cruz), Jovelina Pérola Negra recorded Feira de São Cristóvão (with Bandeira Brasil) and Calango do Morro (Paulo Vizinho) on Luz do Repente, Almir Guineto interpreted Coisa da Roça (Beto Sem Braço/Almir Guineto) on his Perfume de Champanhe, and the Exporta Samba recorded Daltônico Varela (with Serginho Meriti), Samba em Berlim, and Morena do Canjerê (both with Joel Menezes). In 1988, Elza Soares recorded Erê (with Bandeira Brasil) on her Voltei album and Zeca Pagodinho interpreted Manera, Mané (with Serginho Meriti/Arlindo Cruz) on his Jeito Moleque release. In 1990, Zeca Pagodinho recorded Aonde Será Que Eu Vá (with Martinho da Vila) on his CD Mania de Gente and, six years later, Boi (with J. C. Santos) on his CD Deixa Clarear. Pagodinho also recorded Camarão Que Dorme a Onda Leva and São José de Madureira for his Ao Vivo (1999) album. In this same year, Leci Brandão recorded Com Toda Essa Gente (with Dudu Nobre/Zeca Pagodinho) on her Auto-Estima. In 2000, Zeca Pagodinho included A Paisagem on Água da Minha Sede. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi