Benedito Lacerda

Bio

Benedito Lacerda (1903–1958) was a Brazilian flutist, composer, and bandleader whose work helped shape the early development of samba and Brazilian jazz. Born in Macaé, Rio de Janeiro state, he became a prominent figure in Rio’s music scene during the 1930s and 1940s, performing with leading ensembles and recording prolifically as both instrumentalist and arranger. Lacerda composed numerous sambas and instrumental pieces that remain part of the Brazilian repertoire; his collaborations with guitarist and composer Garoto and his leadership of the renowned regional ensemble “Benedito Lacerda e seu Conjunto” cemented his reputation as a versatile and influential musician of the classic samba era.