meet the artist Pepa D'Elia

Pepa D'Elia Biography

Drummer and composer, he also occasionally works as a percussionist. Pepa D’Elia was born in Campinas and is an enthusiast of Brazilian music, from which he has drawn influence since childhood. He began his musical studies at the age of eight on the piano; at twelve he moved on to drums, and at sixteen he started his professional musical career. He studied with the renowned Jayme Pladevall and Lilian Carmona, with whom he built a solid foundation in drumming over nearly seven years, and he holds a degree in Popular Music from Unicamp University(1989–1992). He began to stand out on the music scene for the quality of his work, and after moving permanently to the city of São Paulo, he had the opportunity to build a solid career. He has performed and/or recorded with notable artists such as Rubinho Antunes, Nelson Ayres, Boca Livre, Jarbas Barbosa, Vânia Bastos, Bocato, Brazilian Tropical Orchestra, Keco Brandão, Grupo Café Forte, Daisy Cordeiro, Célia, Chitãozinho & Xororó, Chrystian & Ralf, Jane Duboc, Walter Franco, Orquestra Heartbreakers, Conrad Herwig, J.J. Jackson, Banda Jazzco, Klébi, Sizão Machado, Banda Mantiqueira, Márcia, Ângela Maria, Mafalda Minnozzi, Miúcha, Márcio Montarroyos, Cláudio Nucci, Orchestra Payssandu, Marco Pereira, Pery Ribeiro, Rubinho Ribeiro, Virgínia Rosa, Sá, Rodrix & Guarabyra, Raul de Souza, Banda Savana, Banda Urbana, Zerró Santos Big Band Project, and Jay Vaquer. Throughout his career, he has recorded approximately six albums, among which Banda Urbana (2011) was nominated for the 2012 Brazilian Music Award. He works across a wide range of musical niches and stylistic tendencies. As a member of the Arte Viva Orchestra—conducted by Maestro Amílson Godoy—he took part in numerous productions, performing alongside artists such as Inezita Barroso, Cauby Peixoto, and Agnaldo Rayol; Eduardo Araújo, Silvinha Araújo, Lula Barbosa, Décio Cardoso, Alaíde Costa, Jane Duboc, Maria Eugênia, and José Luiz Maziotti; Dominguinhos, Elba Ramalho, and Alceu Valença; Maria Bethânia and Gilberto Gil; Roberto Menescal, Wanda Sá, Carol Sabóia, and Emílio Santiago; as well as Mariana Aydar and Arnaldo Antunes. He has been a member of Toquinho’s band since 1996, undertaking numerous national and international tours. Highlights of his work with the band include a performance at Expo ’98 in Lisbon featuring saxophonist Sadao Watanabe; the showVivendo Vinícius in 1999 with Carlos Lyra, Miúcha, and Baden Powell; the show and album Sinal Aberto by Paulinho da Viola; and a concert featuring Eliane Elias, Dominguinhos, and Elba Ramalho at the 1st Ilhabela Summer Festival in February 2000, among others. He was the drummer for Fábio Jr.’s band, maintaining an intensive schedule of performances and recordings from 2006 to 2022.

Country: Brazil