Compared to other soul-funk groups, such as Kool & the Gang and Earth, Wind and Fire, Banda Black Rio developed a particular style of instrumental soul music fusing together elements from a number of genres.
WEA had just been established in Brazil, and they wanted to create a band that could be the pioneer of this movement; so they contacted Oberdan Magalhães, a renowned saxophonist, who accepted the challenge together with trumpet player Barrosinho, keyboards and arrangements Cristovão Bastos, guitars and arrangements Claudio Stevenson, bass Jamil Joanes, trombone Lucio Silva and formed Banda Black Rio.
Banda Black Rio was often associated with soul-funk bands such as Kool & the Gang, Earth, Wind and Fire, Herbie Hancock, and others.
The band recorded six albums: the instrumental Maria Fumaça (1977), Gafieira Universal (1978) and Saci Pererê (1980).
They were also invited to take part in other artists' albums, such as Luiz Melodia, Raul Seixas, Sandra de Sa, Emilio Santiago, Alcione, Carlos Dafe, and recorded a live album with Caetano Veloso entitled Bicho Baile Show and Global Brazilians in 1985.