Lula has lived for 20 years in the United States spreading his music, talent, and songs around the continental United States and the world. In recent years, Lula has begun teaching the craft of Afro-Brazilian drumming in schools in and around Los Angeles. His story will be told in our yearly parade in Rio-Style with a taste of Bahia.

Lula was born in Salvador Bahia Jan 8, 1961. At 12 he began playing in different blocos and neighborhood samba schools, beginning with Juventude de Garcia and Filho de Tororo. Some of his memorable teachers that inspired and guided him early in his career were Mario Gusto Miranda and Jacko Araujo Morera. At they early age of 16 years old, Lula was playing with with the afro bloco "Nobre da Saude" when he was called to conduct the bateria. He continued as bateria conductor for the afro bloco "Smack" while working at the "Mercado Modelo". When playing as a percussionist for "As Independentes", he began composing his first songs for the group Alvorada.

Lula continued composing songs as a founding member of "Olodum". He won contests for Olodum with his original songs "Uniao das Racas" and "A Natureza." Lula also played percussion with trio eletricos "Banda Pinel" and "Transito Livre/bloco Curujas". Lula worked extensively with folkloric groups at the dinner showcase "Tenda dos Milagres" in Salvador, and for the state funded group "Bahia Magia".

It was with this group "Bahia Magia" that Lula first visited the United States in 1986. Other worldwide locations where the group traveled to share the culture of Bahia include other states in Brazil, and then Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Portugal, Holland, England, Denmark, Germany, and Israel. Lula moved to Los Angeles in 1987. Since then, he has been the ambassador for Afro-Brazilian music not only in Southern California, but the United States and the world.

Band and individual appearances in movies include The Rundown with the Rock, Jimmy Hollywood with James Belushi, Without You I'm Nothing starring Sandra Bernhardt and Lambada, The Movie.

He recently has also been teaching children in schools in an around Southern California and has over his many years of dedication and skill as a musician, composer, and teacher, earned the title "mestre" or "master".