Agepê

Antônio Gilson Porfírio, known professionally as Agepê, was a Brazilian samba singer and composer born on August 10, 1942, in Rio de Janeiro. Before his artistic success, he worked as a baggage handler and a technical designer for the telecommunications company Telerj. He launched his recording career in 1975 with the single “Moro onde não mora ninguém”, which achieved significant sales and was later covered by Wando. Agepê reached his commercial peak in 1984 with the song “Deixa eu te amar”, which featured on the soundtrack of the telenovela Vereda Tropical. The accompanying album, Mistura Brasileira, sold over 1.5 million copies, making him the first samba musician to reach the one-million mark. A member of the Portela samba school's composing wing, he also recorded a successful version of the Roberto Carlos track “Cama e mesa”. Agepê died in Rio de Janeiro on August 30, 1995, due to complications from an ulcer and diabetes.