Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira was born on August 5, 1941. Airto became a professional musician at the age of 13 playing samba music in his home country. In the mid-1960s he was a member of Trio Novo (later Quarteto Novo) before coming to the United States with his wife vocalist Flora Purim in 1968.

Shortly after moving to America,  Airto was playing in New York City with musicians like Joe Zawinul and Walter Booker. In 1970 he became a member of the Miles Davis group that was experimenting with what would become known as the jazz fusion genre. After leaving Miles, Airto Moreira was a founding member of the both the group Weather Report with Zawinul and Wayne Shorter as well as Chick Corea’s band Return to Forever.

On his 85th birthday Airto can look back on his career having played with many important jazz musicians like Paul Desmond, Lee Morgan, Cannonball Adderley, Keith Jarrett and Stan Getz. In addition, he has also appeared on recordings with artists as diverse as Paul Simon, James Taylor, The Average White Band, Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead and Depeche Mode. Moreira has also recorded 27 albums as a leader.

Here is a link to Airto Moreira in a solo performance at the 2003 Modern Drummer Festival:

"AIRTO"