The farewell of one of the greatest Brazilian sambistas took hundreds of people to the block of the Serrano Empire School on Saturday night (9). Family, friends and fans followed the dawn at a party and honors for singer and songwriter Arlindo Cruz.
The school gates were opened at 18h. At the beginning of the wake, to the sound of atabaques, a ceremony was held for the Orixás, led by the yard Ilê Osè Yobá, in the former Rio-Sao Paulo, in Nova Iguaçu, frequented by the artist, son of Xangô.
Then began a samba wheel with Arlindo Cruz’s hits and the beer distribution on the court. The celebration occurred as a traditional gurimritual of African origin and manifesting itself in festive funerals, marked by music, dance, food and drink.
Arlindinho Neto, son of Arlindo Cruz, sang the song “The Show has to Continue”, success of the background group, composition of the father, with Sombrinha and Luiz Carlos da Vila, all members at the time of the backyard group.
“The teaching he gave me is of struggle, perseverance and being a winning sambista. That’s what I’m going to do: continue fighting and honoring his name,” said Arlindinho.
Rio de Janeiro (RJ), 08/09/2025 – Arlindinho, son of Arlindo Cruz, sings in a funeral in the Serrado Empire. Photo: Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil
Choreographer and passista Carlinhos de Jesus, who has been going through a health problem, but even in a wheelchair made a point of honoring his friend.
“I lost a friend and a brother. He goes to the story, but his work, his story, his memory will be with us. Call the radio, there will be a song of him. The Arlindo has been with me since before the chief of Ramos. Today he becomes the greatest poet of samba. An incredible personality that portrayed the story of each of us, we love, that we had a squeaky pain, we were happy. A place that is Madureira, not exactly addressed, but portrays the space and we have his presence in music and poetry. ”
Oswaldo Cruz’s singer and songwriter said that “Arlindo is a genius and managed to make this traditional samba and that the whole mass that enjoyed another type of music could enjoy the Arlindo. The most generous heart of Brazilian music was Arlindo. Partner, friend and one of the most generous people I met on the face of the earth. ”
Rio de Janeiro (RJ), 08/09/2025 – Babi and Flora Cruz, wife and daughter of sambista Arlindo Cruz, on the court of the Serrano Empire School. Photo: Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil
Genius
The vice president of the Serrano Empire, Paula Maria, said that Arlindo Cruz was her best friend, compadre and boss.
“I am very grateful to God for having the opportunity for living and seeing the genius. He recorded on the ground of my house the star song of Madureira. He told me that there was a song, which would be the turn of the key, that until then Arlindo was the great composer, but and that had the intuition that with that song he would be known as the singer and what happened.
On the school court was also the 64 -year -old Imperian Wagner Francisco, who knows the history of the school well.
“I thought that when we lost singer Roberto Ribeiro, we would have no one to replace him. But then Arlindo Cruz appeared, who with his genius, his hoarse and singing voice, but that everyone understood his music. He won over ten sambas-plot through the Serrano Empire. Arlindo Cruz will always be present in our mind, as well as Roberto Ribeiro and Dona Yvone Lara”.
The tributes to Arlindo Cruz on the Quadra of the Serrano Empire end at 10 am on Sunday (10), when there will be an intimate farewell with the participation of family and friends. Then the artist’s body will go to Jardim da Saudade Cemetery in Sulacap, where at 11am there will be the burial.
Rio de Janeiro (RJ), 08/09/2025 – Family, friends and fans participate in the wake of sambista Arlindo Cruz, on the court of the Serrano Empire samba school. Photo: Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil
Memories
This Saturday, 23h, the TV Brazil re -discipled The Samba na Gamboa program, with Arlindinho Cruz, who honored his father. The presentation is by singer Teresa Cristina.
On Friday, the no censorship program, from TV Brazilexhibited a theme edition to reverence the singer and songwriter. The edition was already recorded and programmed to air.
The program, presented by Cissa Guimarães, was also attended by Arlindinho, producer Babi Cruz, wife of the musician, and writer Marcos Salles, who launches the book The Perfect Sambista, biography of the consecrated artist. Journalist Fabiane Pereira was the debater.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfy_uokynjo
