Arthur Maia was born on April 9, 1962 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He began his musical studies playing drums as a child, before receiving a bass at the age of 15. Influenced by his uncle, bass player Luizão Maia, he became a professional musician. He joined the Brazilian jazz group Cama de Gato in 1985 as a founding member and recorded five albums with the band between 1986 and 1995. These releases include Cama de Gato (1986), Guerra fria (1988), Sambaíba (1990), Dança da lua (1993), and Amendoim torrado (1995). In 1986, he also recorded the collaborative album Tom & Villa with Gilson Peranzzetta. His debut solo album, Maia, was released in 1990 and won the Prêmio Sharp award in 1991. He followed with the solo and collaborative albums Arthur Maia (1996), Black Fusion Band ao vivo (2000) with Hiram Bullock, Planeta música (2002), and O Tempo e a Música (2010). The album Planeta música featured collaborations with Dennis Chambers and Mike Stern. Throughout his career, he also performed and recorded with prominent artists such as Pulsar, Banda Black Rio, Egotrip, El General Paz & La Triple Frontera, Pat Metheny, and Carlos Santana, touring festivals worldwide. He died from cardiac arrest on December 15, 2018.
