Quinteto Violado

Quinteto Violado is a unique group in Brazil. With solid popular roots, they have survived for 30 years in the adverse situation of sensitive music. In that period, they recorded more than 30 national and six international albums, did 14 international tours or presentations, received several awards, and presented constant national performances. In 1971, Brazilian popular music was divided: on one side, die-hard Brazilian-rooted composers such as Chico Buarque and Geraldo Vandré were fighting dictatorship with Brazilian grooves; on the other side, the Tropicalia was anxious to universalize Brazilian culture through pop/rock. Quinteto Violado emerged in the picture as a one of a kind group. They thoroughly researched the rich Northeast folklore, absorbing elements of pop culture, which permitted the group's further development even today. The first formation was Toinho (born Antônio Alves in Garanhuns PE, in 1943), singer and double bassist; Marcelo (born Marcelo de Vasconcelos Cavalcante Melo in Campina Grande PB, in 1946), singer/viola/violão; Fernando Filizola (born in Limoeiro PE, in 1947); Luciano (born Luciano Lira Pimentel in Limoeiro PE, in 1941), percussion; and Sando (born Alexandre Johnson dos Anjos in Garanhuns PE, in 1959), flutist. Before adopting the consecrated denomination, the group did their first performance at the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco in 1970. In October 1971, they performed at the Teatro da Nova Jerusalém in Pernambuco and became known as "the violados" (neologism, "the ones who have the viola"). Adopting the nickname, they became Quinteto Violado. Soon they were presented to producer Roberto Santana (Phonogram) by Gilberto Gil, and in the next year did a show in São Paulo and recorded their first album, Quinteto Violado (Philips,...