Maia began playing music, starting with the guitar, at age thirteen, and then progressed to the double bass. He began playing professionally in 1964 as the bassist for the Rio Samba Trio and as an accompanist to musicians such as Tania Maria and Nelson Cavaquinho.
Maia started playing music, initially with the guitar at age thirteen, and later moved on to the double bass. He began performing professionally in 1964 as a bassist for the Rio Samba Trio and accompanied musicians such as Tania Maria and Nelson Cavaquinho.