Having witnessed the foundation of the Mangueira samba school in his childhood, Babaú da Mangueira participated in the foundation of the samba schools Unidos do Tuiuti (1930, for which he wrote his first samba-enredo, "As Riquezas do Brasil"), Unidos do Cabuçu, Unidos do Outeiro (in the mid-'40s, having his "Brasil Gigante" being the first samba-enredo to be presented by the latter), and Unidos de Vila Valqueire (in 1993). Having written several sambas with partners such as Cartola, Chiquinho Tuiuti, and Bira Sargento, Babaú had his samba "Tenha Pena de Mim" (with Ciro de Sousa) recorded by Aracy de Almeida in 1937. The song, one of his most representative creations, would be recorded later by several other artists. In the '40s, Aracy de Almeida recorded "Eu Dei" and Gilberto Alves "Encontro Saudoso" and "Ela Me Abandonou" (both written with João Taú Silva). In 1972, Jorginho do Império recorded his "Pedra 90," he himself "Brincadeira Tem Hora" and, two years later, Xangô recorded "Por Que Você Não Foi." In the '90s, Babaú recorded "Quem Fala Mais Alto" and "Chinelo Velho" in the Raízes Brasileiras series. ~ Alvaro Neder, All Music Guide