Da Costa was born in
Irajá, a neighborhood in the city of
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and as a child began learning the
pandeiro. He began performing in the
samba parades in
Rio de Janeiro and later joined the youth wing of Portela's Bateria, the rhythm section of a
samba school. He became one of the most internationally known percussionists to emerge from the Samba Schools of Brazil (Escola de Samba). As a teen, da Costa traveled extensively with samba trios and quartets, Brazilian ensembles and Carnaval orchestras. His association with these groups offered him the opportunity to participate in music festivals around the world, in a troupe led by Jorge Goulart and
Nora Ney. Da Costa further developed his musical ability after being exposed to jazz and Cuban music and expanded the range of percussion instruments he could play. He later toured Europe and the Middle East with a Brazilian ensemble together with Waldir Maia e Alcione in 1970. In 1972, Paulinho participated in the
Festival Internacional da Canção in the
Maracanãzinho, performing the song
Fio Maravilha, written about the soccer player
Fio Maravilha, with
Maria Alcina. In 1972, da Costa moved to
Los Angeles and played with
Sergio Mendes from 1973 until 1976. He was introduced to
Norman Granz by
Dizzy Gillespie and was signed to Granz' label, Pablo Records. Da Costa's association with Granz and
Pablo Records made it possible for him to receive permanent resident status in the US. Da Costa went on to record three solo albums under Pablo Records. While in Los Angeles, he also worked with other artists and gained notoriety. The first album he recorded in Los Angeles was with a group called the
Miracles. He played on their number-one charting song, "Love Machine", in 1975. Da Costa coproduced
Ella Abraça Jobim with
Ella Fitzgerald. He also worked extensively with
Dizzy Gillespie,
Joe Pass, and
Milt Jackson. Moreover, Da Costa ventured into a variety of genres and recorded with artists such as
Earth, Wind & Fire,
Donna Summer,
Tavares,
Michael Jackson,
Madonna,
Rod Stewart,
Lionel Richie and
Gloria Gaynor. Da Costa toured with his band and performed at
Montreux Jazz Festival in 1977. == Session work ==