Wilson Das Neves is one of Brazil’s most prolific drummers playing a major part in Brazil’s musical history. Das Neves, also a vocalist, has long been one of the most sought after drummers in Brazil. A very important artist specially for Brazilian Popular Music as a sambista, composer and instrumentalist, with over 50 years dedicated to music. He can be heard in over 600 records from the greatest Brazilian artists

Born on June 14, 1936, in Rio de Janeiro. the percussionist is a key figure in the history of Brazilian music, having played with many of Brazil’s greatest musicians across many decades and after having featured on numerous important recordings. Wilson grew and learnt his trade in Rio; his roots came from Pernambuco, Brazil’s former slave centre. Wilson fills us in on some family history: ‘My father was from Pernambuco and my mother from Salvador. My great-grandmother was the daughter of slaves there. I used to hear a lot of music at home from when I was very small. Lots of partido and Candomble with regional music and flutes, bandolim and cavaquinho.’

By the age of 14 was already learning his trade as a percussionist, studying under Moacir Santos. At the age of 21 he went on tour with "Orquestra de Permínio Gonçalves" and in 1959 he played with the Ubirajara Silva's group. In 1962 he got a place on National Radio where he stayed for a year before being offered to play with the Orquestra Sinfônica do Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, with whom he stayed until 1964. He then worked for the TV stations, spending time at Excelsior, Globo and Rede Tupi. He also contributed to recordings by Astor Silva and the Conjunto Ed Lincoln.

In 1964 Wilson das Neves recorded with Os Ipanemas, a band with Astor Silva (trombone) Marinho, Rubens Bassini (percussion) and Neco (guitar). They released only one album in the 1960s which has achieved cult status. It was released in 1964 and features a mix of bossa nova, Brazilian samba, African rhythms and jazz.

During his career das Neves worked with many great international artists including Sarah Vaughan, Toots Thielemans, Sy Oliver and Michel Legrand. In Brazil he played with key musicians from the MPB movement such as Roberto Carlos, Chico Buarque, Eumir Deodato, Elizeth Cardoso, Clara Nunes, Elza Soares, Elis Regina, Alcione and Beth Carvalho. He also appeared alongside Copinha at the Monte Carlo Casino.

Wilson das Neves released his first album in 1968 'Juventude 2000' and went on to record 'Som Quente É o Das Neves' (1969 and 1976), 'Samba-Tropi - Até aí Morreu Neves' (1970) and his first real solo album 'O Som Sagrado de Wilson das Neves' (1997).

He recently appeared as a member of the 19 piece Gafieira Orquestra, Orquestra Imperial playing on their 2006 album Carnaval Só Ano que Vem. He also played with his former band Os Ipanemas. The band reformed in 2001 with some of the original line up and released five albums on London based Far Out Recordings 'The Return of The Ipanemas' followed by 2003's 'Afro Bossa,' 'Samba Is Our Gift (O Samba É Nosso Dom)' in 2006 'Call of the Gods' in 2008 and a superb final album 'Que Beleza' in 2010.

In 2011 he released his third and praised album as a singer-songwriter named 'Pra Gente Fazer um Samba' in Brazil and Europe. He was nominated as the best singer at the "Prêmio da Música Brasileira 2011" and winner as the best Samba album.

In the later years, although still active he battled cancer. He died on August 26, 2017, at Hospital da Ilha do Governador, in Rio de Janeiro.

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