One of the great percussionists of the jazz-fusion era, Dom Um Romão was most notable as a member of Weather Report but was also a pioneering bossa nova musician. He started playing in Rio in the '40s and in the '50s formed the Copa Trio (with Dom Salvador) and helped launch the bossa explosion with Tom Jobim and João Gilberto.
In the '60s he joined Sergio Mendes' band and started cutting his own albums. After a move to the US he replaced fellow Brazilian Airto in Weather Report in '71 and made several great records as a leader. He continued contributing fresh music for the rest of his life, both on his own albums and for others, even collaborating with contemporary producers.
He has recorded with Jorge Ben, Frank Sinatra, Cannonball Adderley, Paul Simon, Tony Bennett, Yusef Lateef, Astrud Gilberto, Herbie Mann, Colin Walcott, Robert Palmer, McCoy Tyner, Blood Sweat & Tears, his ex-wife Flora Purim and many, many more. He died in Rio after a stroke in 2005.