Paulinho da Costa, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a world-renowned percussionist celebrated for his versatility and mastery of over 200 instruments. Beginning his musical journey in samba, he moved to the United States in the early 1970s, joining Sérgio Mendes' Brasil '77. His dynamic style has graced thousands of recordings across genres, collaborating with legends like Michael Jackson on "Thriller," Madonna on "True Blue," and Celine Dion on "Let's Talk About Love." Da Costa's contributions extend to iconic film soundtracks such as "Saturday Night Fever," "Dirty Dancing," and "Purple Rain." Recognized by DownBeat magazine as "one of the most talented percussionists of our time," ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulinho_da_Costa?utm_source=openai)) he continues to influence the global music scene with his unparalleled rhythm and passion.