Zé Ramalho

Zé Ramalho (; born José Ramalho Neto on October 3, 1949 – Brejo do Cruz, Paraíba, Brazil) is a Brazilian composer and performer. Zé Ramalho has collaborated with various major Brazilian musicians, including Vanusa, Geraldo Azevedo and Alceu Valença.

As with many musicians back in his younger days, he was first influenced by rock and roll; however, at the age of 20, his music took a more traditional Northeastern Brazilian approach. Zé Ramalho's lyrics however, are very influenced by the socio-economic difficulties faced by the average Brazilian.

Zé Ramalho is the first cousin of Elba Ramalho, a Brazilian composer and performer.

Biography

Early life: 1949–1974 Zé Ramalho was born to Estelita Torres Ramalho, an elementary school teacher, and Antônio de Pádua Pordeus Ramalho, a Seresta performer. When he was two years old, his father drowned in a reservoir of the sertão, and he was then adopted by his grandfather. His love for his grandfather would later be expressed in the song "Avôhai".

As soon as the family settled in João Pessoa, he took part of some Jovem Guarda performances, being influenced by Renato Barros, Leno e Lílian, Roberto Carlos & Erasmo Carlos, Golden Boys, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Bob Dylan.

In 1974, his first son, Christian, was born.

Before composing, he used to write Cordel literature.

First works: 1974–1975 Also in 1974, he performed for Tânia Quaresma's movie Nordeste: Cordel, Repente e Canção soundtrack. At that time, he figured out a way to mix all the influences he received throughout his life: from Rock 'n' Roll to Forró. A year later, he recorded his first album, Paêbirú along with Lula Côrtes through the label . Today the copies from this very rare vinyl are highly priced in the international collector's market.

Beginning of the major musical career:1975–1984 In 1976, he left medicine school and moved to Rio de Janeiro,

In 2008, he released a compilation of rarities called Zé Ramalho da Paraíba, followed by another cover album: Zé Ramalho canta Bob Dylan - Tá tudo mudando, a tribute to the American musician.

In 2009, a third cover album, Zé Ramalho Canta Luiz Gonzaga, was released, paying tribute to the Brazilian musician. In 2010 and 2011, respectively, he released two more tribute albums: Zé Ramalho Canta Jackson do Pandeiro, in tribute to Jackson do Pandeiro, and Zé Ramalho Canta Beatles, in tribute to the Beatles.

Own record label: 2012–present In 2012, Zé Ramalho created his own record label, Avôhai Music, through which he is releasing his first non-cover studio album since 2007: Sinais dos Tempos.

In November 2014, Zé Ramalho released a collaborative live album with singer and acoustic guitarist Fagner, entitled Fagner & Zé Ramalho ao Vivo.

Discography

Studio albums 1975 – Paêbirú (with Lula Côrtes) 1978 – Zé Ramalho 1979 – A Peleja do Diabo com o Dono do Céu 1981 – A Terceira Lâmina 1982 – A Força Verde 1983 – Orquídea Negra 1984 – Por Aquelas Que Foram Bem Amadas or Pra Não Dizer Que Não Falei de Rock 1985 – De Gosto de Água e de Amigos 1986 – Opus Visionário 1987 – Décimas de um Cantador 1992 – Frevoador 1996 – Cidades e Lendas 1997 – Antologia Acústica (Acoustic versions album – Gold, 9× Platinum ) 2000 – Nação Nordestina 2001 – Zé Ramalho Canta Raul Seixas (Raul Seixas cover songs – Gold ) 2002 – O Gosto da Criação 2007 – Parceria dos Viajantes 2008 – Zé Ramalho Canta Bob Dylan – Tá Tudo Mudando" (Bob Dylan cover songs) 2009 – Zé Ramalho Canta Luiz Gonzaga (Luiz Gonzaga cover songs) 2010 – Zé Ramalho Canta Jackson do Pandeiro (Jackson do Pandeiro cover songs) 2011 – Zé Ramalho Canta Beatles (The Beatles cover songs) 2012 – Sinais dos Tempos

Live albums 2005 – Zé Ramalho ao Vivo 2014 – Fagner & Zé Ramalho ao Vivo

Compilations 1991 – Brasil Nordeste 2002 – Perfil (2× Gold ) 2003 – Estação Brasil 2008 – Zé Ramalho da Paraíba 2016 – Zé Ramalho voz e violão 40 anos de música

Guest appearances Lordose pra leão – os pássaros não calçam rua Jorge Cabeleira – Jorge Cabeleira e o dia em que seremos todos inúteis Roberta de Recife – Nordestina Ricardo Vilas e amigos – Bem Brasil Waldonys – aprendi com o Rei vol.2 Renato e seus Blue Caps – Renato e seus Blue Caps (1981) João do Vale – João do Vale (1981) Segredo de Estado – Segredo de Estado (1992) Glorinha Gadelha – tudo que ilumina (1993) Dorival Caymmi – Songbook Dorival Caymmi vol. 4 (1993) João Batista do Vale – João Batista do Vale (1994) Various Artists – Viva Gonzagão! É forró, é xote, é baião (1994 tribute to Gonzaguinha) Jorge Mautner – Bomba de estrelas (1995 tribute album to Jorge Mautner) Zé Ramalho, Geraldo Azevedo, Alceu Valença and Elba Ramalho – O grande encontro (1996) (5× Platinum ) Xuxa – Arraiá da Xuxa (1997) Dominguinhos & Various Artists – Dominguinhos e convidados cantam Luiz Gonzaga (1997) Falcão – A Um Passo da MPB (1997) Boca Livre – Boca Livre, 20 anos - convida (1997) André Luiz Oliveira – Mensagem de Fernando Pessoa (1997) Zé Ramalho, Geraldo Azevedo and Elba Ramalho – O grande encontro 2 (1997) (Gold ) Various Artists – Casa do forró - ao vivo (1998) Geraldo Azevedo – Raízes e Frutos (1998) Fagner – Amigos e Canções (1998) Alcymar Monteiro – Festa Brasileira (1999) Elba Ramalho – Solar (1999) Zeca Baleiro – Vô imbolá (1999) Marinês – Marinês & sua gente - 50 anos de forró (1999) Various Artists – Jackson do Pandeiro - revisto e sampleado (1999 tribute album to Jackson do Pandeiro) Various Artists – O submarino verde e amarelo (2000) Various Artists – Reiginaldo Rossi - um tributo (2000 tribute to Reiginaldo Rossi) Various Artists – O melhor do forró no maior São João do mundo (2000) Zé Ramalho, Elba Ramalho, Geraldo Azevedo – O grande encontro 3 - ao vivo (Gold ) Various Artists – Forró Força Livre - vol 3 (2001) Various Artists – John Lennon - uma homenagem (2001 tribute album to John Lennon Gonzaguinha & Various Artists – Duetos com Mestre Lua (2001) Rastapé – Até o Dia Clarear (2002) Various Artists – Forró da feira 2 (2002) Various Artists – Lisbela e o Prisioneiro (2003) Jota Quest – Oxigênio (2003) Paulo Cesar Barros & Various Artists – Estrada (2004) Various Artists – Um barzinho, um violão - ao vivo (2004) Chitãozinho & Xororó – Aqui o Sistema é Bruto (2004) Léo e Bia – Léo e Bia 1973 - edição especial (2005) Beto Brito – Imbolê (2007) Os Paralamas do Sucesso – Brasil Afora (2009) Andreas Kisser – Hubris I & II (2009)