Paulinho da Costa

Paulinho da Costa is arguably the most prolific percussionist in the history of recorded music, a claim supported by his presence on thousands of albums across nearly every commercial genre. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he brought the complex polyrhythms of samba to the United States in the early 1970s, initially joining Sérgio Mendes' Brasil '77.

His sound identity is defined by a 'more is more' approach to percussion that remains remarkably tasteful; he often overdubbed dozens of rhythmic tracks to create a dense, shimmering atmosphere that became a signature of the Quincy Jones production era. His work on Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' and Earth, Wind & Fire's 'I Am' cemented his status as the industry's first-call percussionist. Critically, he is viewed as the bridge between traditional Brazilian folk rhythms and the polished, commercial requirements of American R&B and Pop. For collectors, his solo output on labels like Pablo and A&M represents the pinnacle of high-fidelity jazz fusion, prized for its immaculate engineering and rhythmic complexity.