Sivuca was born on May 26, 1930 in Itabaiana, Paraíba, Brazil as Severino Dias de Oliveira. He is known for his work on Os Trapalhões na Serra Pelada (1982), As Melhores Coisas do Mundo (2010) and Água Viva (1980). He was married to Gloria Gadelha. He died on December 14, 2006 in São Francisco, Paraíba.