At 66, Maurício Pereira is having another moment. The São Paulo singer, songwriter and saxophonist released O Dia da Girafa on July 29, 2026, his first album of original songs in eight years. The record finds him looking inward, trading some of his familiar city chronicles for more fragmented, poetic writing shaped during the isolation of the pandemic.
That late-career turn feels surprisingly natural for an artist who has spent four decades refusing to fit neatly into one musical category. From the experimental pop of Os Mulheres Negras to his solo work, Pereira has built a reputation as one of the distinctive voices in Brazilian indie MPB and São Paulo’s independent music scene.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Maurício Gallocci Pereira |
| Born | November 8, 1959 |
| Current Age | 66 |
| Birthplace | São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Ethnicity | Not publicly documented in reliable sources |
| Profession | Singer, songwriter, saxophonist, journalist, actor, broadcaster |
| Estimated Net Worth | Not publicly documented |
| Height / Weight | Not reliably documented |
| Relationship Status | Private / not reliably documented |
| Active Since | 1980s |
Personal figures such as net worth, height, weight and relationship status are not reliably published by authoritative sources and should be treated as unavailable rather than factual estimates.
Early Life & Background
Pereira was born in São Paulo on November 8, 1959, and his connection with the city became central to his artistic identity. He did not follow the conventional path of a young musician. He studied journalism and worked professionally as a journalist, including as a proofreader at O Estado de S. Paulo, before music became his main occupation.
He has described himself as a “late musician.” That timing mattered. Rather than entering the music business as a teenager, he arrived with a journalist’s curiosity and a fascination with language, everyday life and popular culture.
His musical life changed when he met André Abujamra in the early 1980s during a course focused on African rhythms. The two quickly discovered a shared taste for unusual combinations and began making music together. That meeting eventually produced Os Mulheres Negras, one of the strangest and most entertaining projects to emerge from São Paulo’s independent scene.
Career Journey & Breakthroughs
Os Mulheres Negras
Pereira and Abujamra formed Os Mulheres Negras in 1985. The duo jokingly called itself “the world’s third smallest big band,” and the description captured their approach: two performers creating the impression of something much larger through electronics, saxophone, vocals, samples and theatrical presentation.
Their music mixed samba, baião, pop, rock, electronic sounds and other influences, while their lyrics often carried a playful, surreal sense of humor. Their first album, Música e Ciência, arrived in 1988 through Warner, followed by Música Serve pra Isso in 1990.
The duo split in 1991 after several years of collaboration, with both artists moving toward individual careers. They eventually reunited in 2012 and returned to performing together.
Television and a Solo Career
In the early 1990s, Pereira became the singer for Fanzine, the TV Cultura program presented by writer Marcelo Rubens Paiva. During the show’s run, he reportedly performed more than 600 songs by Brazilian composers, giving him an unusual education in the country’s songwriting tradition.
His solo debut, Na Tradição, arrived in 1995. A few years later came Mergulhar na Surpresa (1998), a record that developed a cult following and featured pianist Daniel Szafran.
Pereira was also an early adopter of the internet. In December 1996, he performed what has been described as Brazil’s first live concert broadcast online. For an independent musician, the web became more than a promotional tool; it offered a way to communicate directly with listeners and build an audience outside the traditional record industry.
His later discography includes Pra Marte (2007), Canções Que um Dia Você Já Assobiou – Vol. 1 (2003), Carnaval Turbilhão (2005), Pra Onde Que Eu Tava Indo (2014), Outono no Sudeste (2018) and Micro (2022).
One of his best-known compositions, “Trovoa,” became particularly influential after being recorded by artists including Metá Metá and Maria Gadú.
O Dia da Girafa and a New Chapter
On July 29, 2026, Pereira released O Dia da Girafa, his first album of new material in eight years. The songs originated largely during the pandemic, when he began writing privately without initially planning to turn the material into an album.
The resulting record is more introspective than some of his earlier work. Instead of always behaving like straightforward stories about São Paulo and its characters, the lyrics move through images, associations and fragments of thought.
The album also has a strong family connection. His sons Tim Bernardes and Chico Bernardes are among the younger musicians involved in the project, linking Pereira’s generation of São Paulo independent music with a newer one.
Body Stats & Physical Appearance
Maurício Pereira is recognizable for his gray hair, glasses and understated appearance, particularly in recent photographs and performances. He is frequently seen with a saxophone when performing.
Reliable public sources do not provide a confirmed height or weight, so those figures should not be presented as fact.
Scandals, Controversies & Media Headlines
Pereira’s career has not been defined by major personal scandals or celebrity controversies. Most media attention has focused on his music, his unconventional work with Os Mulheres Negras, his independent approach to releasing records and his role as an influential São Paulo songwriter.
His most recent headlines have instead centered on O Dia da Girafa and the creative change behind it. Pereira has spoken openly about spending years trying to write in a simpler, more direct way before accepting that his natural style was more complex and associative.
Personal Life, Hobbies & Relationships
Pereira generally keeps his private life away from the celebrity-news cycle. One of the best-known facts about his family is his connection to Tim Bernardes, founder of O Terno, who has developed his own successful career as a singer-songwriter and producer. His son Chico Bernardes is also a musician.
Beyond recording and performing, Pereira has worked as an actor, narrator, broadcaster and creator of music for television, cinema and theater. He has also given talks and workshops about music and songwriting.
In 2023, he expanded into literature with Minha Cabeça Trovoa: As Letras que Eu Fiz e Suas Histórias, a book combining his song lyrics with stories and reflections about their creation.
Official Social Media Handles
- Instagram: @mauriciopereiramusico
- X/Twitter: @mauricioccp7
- YouTube: Maurício Pereira’s YouTube Channel
- Official Website: mauriciopereira.com.br
- Spotify: Maurício Pereira on Spotify
- Wikipedia: Maurício Pereira on Wikipedia
Related Reading
Readers interested in independent and alternative music can also explore Jósean Log, Soko, Siennor and Alyona Shvets.
FAQs
How old is Maurício Pereira?
Maurício Pereira was born on November 8, 1959. As of September 6, 2026, he is 66 years old.
What is Maurício Pereira best known for?
He is best known for his solo songwriting career and for co-founding the experimental Brazilian duo Os Mulheres Negras with André Abujamra.
What is Maurício Pereira’s latest album?
His latest album is O Dia da Girafa, released on July 29, 2026. It is his first album of original material in eight years.
Is Maurício Pereira related to Tim Bernardes?
Yes. Tim Bernardes is Maurício Pereira’s son. The two have also worked together musically, including on O Dia da Girafa.