Before becoming one of the main names in axé music in Brazil, Netinho combined music with his Civil Engineering studies. Born in the interior of Bahia, he began his career doing small presentations, went on stage at the Salvador Carnival as the lead singer of Banda Beijo and conquered the country with successes that spanned generations.
The singer died on Tuesday (13), aged 60, in a hospital in the capital of Bahia. The wake and cremation will take place this Wednesday (14), in a private ceremony. The family chose not to disclose the location or time.
He had been facing cancer of the lymphatic system for over a year. As his health worsened, he suffered kidney failure and multiple organ dysfunction.
Owner of hits such as “Beijo na Boca”, “Estrela Primeira”, “A Vida é Festa” and “Milla”, Netinho built a trajectory that is intertwined with the history of axé music and the popularization of the genre beyond Bahia.
From childhood in Recôncavo to the first chords
Netinho (1966 – 2026) leaves a discography that reached its peak between 1988 and 1996 — Photo: Disclosure
Netinho was born in Santo Antônio de Jesus, in the Recôncavo region of Bahia, on July 12, 1966. At the age of 10, he moved with his family to Salvador, where he began to get involved with music.
He got his first guitar when he was 14, as a gift from his mother. Two years later, the young man entered the Civil Engineering course at the Catholic University of Salvador (Ucsal).
While studying, Netinho already showed interest in following the artistic path. He performed at schools and later began playing professionally in bars in the capital of Bahia.
At the time, the repertoire was mainly focused on Brazilian popular music (MPB) and bossa nova. Little by little, presentations stopped being just a side activity to his studies and started to occupy a central place in his life.
‘Beijo na Boca’ projected singer in Brazil
Netinho — Photo: Ricardo Matsukawa/UOL
The big leap happened in 1988, when Netinho debuted as the lead singer of Banda Beijo during the Salvador Carnival.
In the same year, the group achieved national recognition with “Beijo na Boca”, a song that became one of the first big hits in the artist’s career.
The repercussion paved the way for other songs, such as “Estrela Primeira”, “Barracos” and “A Vida é Festa”. With performances marked by the energy of Carnival, Netinho gained space among the names that helped expand the reach of axé music in the country.
The experience leading Banda Beijo was fundamental for the singer's training and for building a fan base that would follow his steps in the following years.
Solo career and the ‘Milla’ phenomenon
Singer Netinho — Photo: Washington Nery
In 1993, Netinho began his solo career. Three years later, he released “Milla”, a song that would become one of the biggest hits of his career.
The hit helped consolidate the singer as one of the main representatives of axé music and went beyond the borders of Bahia. Netinho became known in different regions of Brazil and also performed abroad, in countries such as Italy and Chile.
With “Milla” and other hits, the artist established a lasting connection with the public. His songs became part of the repertoire of parties, shows and carnivals, maintaining his presence in the memory of different generations.
In addition to the stage, Netinho invested in the music market
Netinho — Photo: Acervo TV Globo
Netinho's performance was not restricted to presentations. The singer also invested in the structure of the music industry and opened a recording and mixing studio in Rio de Janeiro.
He also created a music label with the aim of launching new Bahian artists, expanding his activities beyond his career as an interpreter.
Health problems marked the trajectory
In 2013, Netinho faced a series of serious health problems. After a liver infection, he underwent surgical drainage to remove an abscess and subsequently suffered three strokes.
The period was marked by hospitalizations, loss of voice on some occasions and depression. The problems kept him away from the Salvador Carnival for four years.
In March 2025, Netinho announced his diagnosis of cancer of the lymphatic system. He started sharing information about the treatment on social media and, that year, the disease went into remission. In May 2026, however, it was revealed that the cancer had returned in a more aggressive form.
Netinho — Photo: Social networks
During the last months of treatment, according to the advisor, the artist used to talk about his own journey with gratitude.
"I will leave happy, fulfilled, because life has given me much more than I dreamed of. I will take with me the smile of every fan who was happy with my art", he said.
Personal life and passage into politics
Between 1997 and 2003, Netinho was married to journalist Mariana Trindade, with whom he had a daughter, Bruna Trindade.
In 2010, the singer spoke publicly about his bisexuality. Two years later, in an interview with Fantástico, on TV Globo, he stated that he preferred not to dwell on the subject.
In 2022, he ran for federal deputy for the Liberal Party (PL), but was unable to be elected. He received approximately 31 thousand votes and remained as a substitute for the party. The artist also declared support for then-president Jair Bolsonaro and participated in demonstrations in favor of him — a position that generated criticism.
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