Arlindo Cruz's biography reconstructs the samba artist's history without glossing over the shadows.

One of the most brilliant samba composers, Arlindo Cruz died this Friday 8th, in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), as a result of the after-effects of a hypertensive hemorrhagic stroke suffered in March 2017.

The recently released biography Sambista Perfeito: Arlindo Cruz (Editora Malê, 466 pages), by Marcos Salles, reconstructs the career of the singer and composer, without softening the shadowy areas.

On the day of his stroke, Arlindo was scheduled to travel to São Paulo, where he would perform three shows on the same day, at different venues. The marathon illustrates the pace of the last few years before the stroke—even more exhausting for a man who, at almost 60, was overweight, diabetic, and used a wheelchair due to arthritis and osteoarthritis in his knee.

Recognized as one of the biggest names in samba since 2010, Arlindo Cruz once earned fees of up to R$100,000 per performance. A few years later, however, this amount dropped to less than half. His son, Arlindinho, attributes part of this drop to shows marred by drug use. His cocaine addiction began in Fundo de Quintal and followed him throughout his career, with few interruptions.

The artist's private life is as intense and turbulent as his musical one. The book details family conflicts related to drug use, constant crises in his marriage to Babi, a child born out of wedlock, and gastronomic and festive binges.

The biography also reveals a difficult family past: Arlindo's father, a police officer, was a member of the Death Squad—a paramilitary group responsible for executions—and spent 19 years in prison. During this time, the samba singer even took Fundo de Quintal to perform at the prison.

Between humor and generosity, passion for samba and inability to contain excesses, Arlindo saw his health and public image deteriorate.

Musical legacy

Arlindo Cruz emerged from the so-called Cacique de Ramos generation, which flourished in the eponymous block in Rio's North Zone in the late 1970s. Before that, he was a typical resident of the city's outskirts, where samba was the center of social life.

Taken by his father, he met Mestre Candeia at a young age. From there came the cavaquinho and the drive to compose. Between 1981 and 1992, he was a member of Fundo de Quintal; later, he formed a duo with Sombrinha, also a Cacique alumnus, before embarking on a solo career.

A prolific composer, he worked with sambas from the terreiro (a Brazilian street), partido-alto (a Brazilian street), samba-enredo (a Brazilian street samba), and romantic sambas, conquering the most popular classes. He wrote classics such as It's Still Time to Be Happy (with Sombra and Sombrinha), No Address (with Luiz Carlos da Vila), The Show Must Go On (with Sombrinha and Luiz Carlos da Vila), Bagaço da Laranja (with Zeca Pagodinho and Jovelina Pérola Negra), Meu Lugar (with Mauro Diniz), and O Bem (with Délcio Luiz).

Among his most moving compositions is "Saudade Louca" (with Acyr Marques and Franco), written for his first wife, who died in a car accident while pregnant with Arlindo. The song, recorded by Zeca Pagodinho, was officially released in 1999.

The audiovisual project Batuques do Meu Lugar , recorded at Terreirão do Samba and released in 2012, is a faithful portrayal of the greatness of his work. In it, Arlindo sings with Zeca Pagodinho, Alcione, Marcelo D2, Caetano Veloso, and others, also demonstrating his strength as an interpreter.

With his death, Arlindo joins other exponents of the Cacique de Ramos who have already passed away, such as Luiz Carlos da Vila, Almir Guineto, Ubirany, Bira Presidente, Claudio Camunguelo, Deni de Lima, Bandeira Brasil, Renatinho Partideiro and Éfson.