An awarded composer of many sambas-enredo for the Unidos da Tijuca samba school, Darci da Mangueira led the Estação Primeira to many successes with his creations. As a composer of sambas de terreiro and other genres he has had his works recorded by singers like Beth Carvalho (Memória de um Compositor), Clara Nunes (Cheguei À Conclusão), Alcione (Quero Sim), Martinho da Vila (Samba do Trabalhador and Para Você Felicidade), and Renata Lu (Quero Sim). Son of Benedito Monteiro, one of the founders of the Unidos da Tijuca samba school, since very early Darci was absorbing the samba culture. He started to write his earliest sambas at 15, being one of the founders of the Carnaval bloco Flor da Mocidade. As he started to write sambas-enredo for the Unidos da Tijuca, he soon was invited to be a member of the Ala dos Compositores (Composers' Section) of that school, which soon also included Zagaia, Pelado, and Hélio Turco. In 1967, Mangueira won the annual Carnaval contest with his samba-enredo O Mundo Encantado de Monteiro Lobato (co-written by Luís de Siqueira/Batista da Mangueira). In that same year, Elza Soares recorded the samba with success. In 1968 Mangueira won the contest again with one of his sambas-enredo, Festa de um Povo (co-written by Hélio Turco/Dico/Batista da Mangueira). In the next year, Mangueira brought out his samba-enredo Mercadores e Suas Tradições (co-written by Jurandir da Mangueira/Hélio Turco). In that year, Elza Soares again recorded his samba-enredo O Mundo Encantado de Monteiro Lobato. In 1971, again the Mangueira family paraded to one of his sambas, Modernos Bandeirantes (co-written by HélioTurco/Jurandir da Mangueira). In the next year Darci performed with the Trio Pelé and Trio Pandeiro de Ouro in France, Spain, and Italy, staying for four months in Europe. In 1973 Renata Lu won the Second National Meeting of Samba Composers with Quero Sim (co-written by Leci Brandão). Also in that year Elza Soares re-recorded O Mundo Encantado de Monteiro Lobato, and Beth Carvalho interpreted his Memória de um Compositor (with Betinho) on her Canto Por Um Novo Dia. In the next year he recorded his Samba do Trabalhador on the album Roda de Samba. In 1979 Alcione recorded Quero sim on her album Gostoso Veneno. In 1984, Darci da Mangueira's samba-enredo Yes, Nós Temos Braguinha (co-written by Hélio Turco/Arroz/Jajá/Comprido) was presented at the Carnival, winning the contest and receiving excellent popular response. In 1995, one of his sambas was again voted for the Carnaval, Abram Alas, Que Eu Quero Passar (co-written by Hélio Turco/Jurandir). The album Velha Guarda da Mangueira e Convidados (1999) contained Darci da Mangueira's Se Foi Bom Pra Você (co-written by Darcy Maravilha). ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi