An active sideman for recording sessions, Copinha accompanied the stars Carmen Miranda, Francisco Alves, Mário Reis, Carlos Galhardo, Orlando Silva, Sílvio Caldas, Nuno Roland, Rui Rei, and many others in the Golden Age of song (between the '30s and '40s). During the bossa nova years (late '50s to early '60s), he accompanied Elizeth Cardoso, João Gilberto (since his first album), and other icons of the movement. He recorded Pierre Barouh's score for the famous film #Un Homme et une Femme, together with Baden Powell, Milton Banana, and the Castro-Neves brothers: Oscar and Iko. From the '70s to the '80s, he was a sideman for Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, Paulinho da Viola, Roberto Carlos, Gilberto Gil, and others. He also had international success with his solo work, which was ahead of his own orchestra.

Born the seventh son of Italian immigrants, he began his musical studies at age nine with his older brother, Vicente Cópia (all his brothers were musicians). Taking up the flute, he became a professional in 1924, accompanying silent movies until the advent of sound in 1930. In 1928, he took up the clarinet and the saxophone and played around a lot. In 1930, he performed several times for Rádio Paulista, accompanied by Garoto. His first album was recorded in that year, together with Garoto, Aimoré, Armandinho (all violonistas [acoustic guitar players]), and singer Moreira da Silva. With his brothers and nephews, he organized the Orquestra Irmãos Cópia (who played regularly until 1934), where crooners like Rui Rei, Nuno Roland, and Grande Otelo performed. Completing an engineering degree at a university, he worked for some time in that profession, but never abandoned his busy schedule as a musician. In 1931, he joined the quartet of Spartaco Rossi on their tour of Germany. In 1932, he accompanied famous singers Mário Reis and Francisco Alves. In 1933, he performed at Rádio Cruzeiro do Sul with Maestro Gaó's Orquestra Columbia, joining them regularly between 1937 and 1939. Expanding his activities to Rio de Janeiro in 1936, he was hired by Rádio Ipanema and played with Pixinguinha at the Eldorado gafieira. He was an active sideman during the '30s and '40s. From 1939 to 1943 he joined the orchestra of Simon Bountman, and from 1944 to 1946 he performed with the orchestra of Carlos Machado at the Cassino da Urca, playing also in other casinos. His own orchestra was formed in 1946; they performed until 1959 at the Casino of the Copacabana Palace Hotel. In that period, coinciding with the inception of bossa nova, several of the important names of the movement joined his orchestra or were accompanied by them, such as João Gilberto, João Donato, Milton Banana, and many others. In 1958, after having accompanied Elizeth Cardoso on the historic album where bossa nova was launched (Canção do Amor Demais), he was invited by Tom Jobim to appear on the debut album of João Gilberto. In the bossa nova period, he continued his active participation as a sideman in recordings. In 1966, he performed in Monaco with his orchestra, Copinha do Rio. In 1967, he teamed with pianist Dom Salvador, drummer Chico Batera, and bassist Sérgio Barroso, playing in Miami, Dallas, and Minneapolis (U.S.A.). His 50-year career was commemorated with the recording of the LP Jubileu de Ouro (Som Livre), in July 1975. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi