Dominguinhos do Estácio, one of the greatest puxadores in Brazil, was born on the Hill of São Carlos in Rio de Janeiro where he began his samba career at Deixa Falar, the first school of samba in Brazil (now well known as Estácio da Sá) where he was puxador for 12 years.

In 1991 he was also in Acadêmicos do Grande Rio as the official puxador and composer of the samba enredo which took the school to be the Rio Carnival Champion that year.

In 1992, he returned to Estácio da Sá and, with his samba enredo Pauliceia Desvairada, the Carnival Championship was won again.

In 1997 he moved to Unidos do Viradouro and, yet again, won the championship singing his composition Trevas! Luz! A explosão do universo.

In 2009 he sang for Inocentes de Belford Roxo and in 2010 he sang for Imperatriz Leopoldinense.

Dominguinhos became known as Pé quente do Samba - wherever he went, with his great voice and with samba surging in his veins, the carnival championship was won. Dominguinhos has won no less than 7 trophies for Best Voice of Rio Carnival.

Dominguinhos composed Paraiso's 2004 Samba Enredo and made his first ever visit to London to sing it himself in Paraiso's Notting Hill Carnival parade. He returned to our Notting Hill parade to sing Paraiso's 2005 Samba Enredo which he wrote. Dominguinos wrote Paraiso's 2008 Samba Enredo and we look forward to another visit in the future.