Armando Marçal started in music at 14. As the son of Mestre Marçal (1930-1994) who operated the largest Brazilian samba school GRES Portela from 1978 to 1986, while his grandfather Armando Marçal was a famous samba composer and formed a famous samba duo together with Alcebíades Bide Barcelos. In the United States, Marcal worked with artists such as Pat Metheny, Paul Simon, and Don Cherry.
In Brazil, he worked alongside big names in Brazilian popular music, such as Gal Costa, Jorge Ben Jor, Veloso, John Bosco, Djavan, Vanessa da Mata, Chico Buarque, 'Blitz', Ivan Lins and Elis Regina. He was introduced to percussion in Paralamas do Sucesso and was also a member of the band 'Lulu'.