Tia Doca da Portela

Jilçaria Cruz Costa, known as Tia Doca da Portela or Tia Doca (20 December 1932 – 25 January 2009) was a Brazilian samba composer and singer. She began working as a flagbearer for the samba school Unidos da Congonha and joined the Velha Guarda da Portela in 1970, performing samba music and sang in various events the school promoted in countries such as France, Italy and the United States. Doca recorded music on several albums from 1970 to 2007 with such artists as Beth Carvalho and Zeca Pagodinho.

Early life Doca was born Jilçaria Cruz Costa on 20 December 1932 in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Her mother, Dona Albertinha, was 's inaugural flagbearer. and she began working as a flagbearer for the samba school Unidos da Congonha in Rio de Janeiro's Vaz Lobo neighbourhood.

Career Following a suggestion by Alberto Lonato, Doca did the samba and sang during her time at the school in various events that it promoted in locations such as France, Italy and the United States. She was a participant on the 2005 album À vera and Cidade do Samba two years later. She also authored the sambas Temporal and Orgulho Negro as a composer, the latter of which was performed by Jovelina Pérola Negra.