O singer Zé Paulo Sierra, 49, was announced this Wednesday (8) as the new performer at the Rio samba school Portela. The artist was chosen for replace Gilsinho, who died at the end of September, at 55 years old.
The singer has already paraded in front of other Rio schools such as , in 2011; a, in 2012; and Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel, where he performed the samba between 2014 and 2023. At the São Paulo Carnival, Sierra was responsible for the 2011 samba of X-9 Paulistana.
In addition to representing Portela at Sapucaí in 2026, Zé Paulo Sierra will also remain in charge of the sound car for União de Maricá, in the Rio de Janeiro Carnival Gold Series.
In the parade next year, the greatest champion of the Rio festivities, appointed as the main person responsible for batuque, an African-based religion in Rio Grande do Sul.
The chosen work was composed by Valtinho Botafogo, Raphael Gravino, Gabriel Simões, Braga, Cacau Oliveira, Miguel Cunha and Dona Madalena.
Gilsinho’s death
better known as Gilsinho, one of the most notable voices in the history of Rio carnival, , at 55 years old. In addition to Portela, the club he had been with since 2006, other samba schools lamented what happened.
Throughout his career, he won the Estandarte de Ouro award three times, in 2012, 2019 and 2022, each time with Portela. His battle cry in the Rio club was “Go to Ginga, Portela”.
*With information from Flávio Ismerim, from CNN Brasil
