Zé Ramalho Overview

Zé Ramalho (born José Ramalho Neto on October 3, 1949 - Brejo do Cruz - Paraiba, Brazil) is a Brazilian composer and performer. Zé Ramalho has collaborated with various major Brazilian musicians, including Vanusa, Geraldo Azevedo and Alceu Valença to name a few. Ze Ramalho is also the first cousin of Elba Ramalho, a well known Brazilian composer and performer.



Early life: 1949-1974

Zé Ramalho was born to Estelita Torres Ramalho, a 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”. After spending most of his childhood in Campina Grande, his family moved to João Pessoa. He was expected to become a doctor.

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 Roberto Carlos (singer) & Erasmo Carlos, Golden Boys, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Bob Dylan.

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

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 receied throughout his life: From Rock 'n' Roll to Forró. An year later, he recorded his first album, "Paêbirú" along with Lula Côrtes through the label Rozenblit. 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 1977, he recorded his second album, the self-titled "Zé Ramalho Zé Ramalho (album) ". An year later, his second son, Wilson, was born. In 1979, the third son, João (born to him and to his wife Amelinha), came along the third album, "A Peleja do Diabo com o Dono do Céu" (also referred to as "Zé Ramalho II"). He then moved to Fortaleza in 1980, where he wrote and published his book "Carne de Pescoço" ("Neck's Flesh"). The fourth album, "A Terceira Lâmina", was released afterwards, and the fifth one, "A Força Verde", in 1982.

In 1983, he broke up with Amelinha and moved to Rio de Janeiro. After releasing his sixth album, "Orquídea Negra", he got married with Roberta, Amelinha's cousin, in 1984.

Small declining: 1985-1990

The mid eighties would witness a small decrease in Zé Ramalho's po***rity, with the releases of the albums "Pra Não Dizer Que Não Falei de Rock (or "Por Aquelas Que Foram Bem Amadas") (1984), "De Gosto de Água e de Amigos" (1985), "Opus Visionário" (1986) and "Décimas de um Cantador" (1987). It has been suggested that the usage of experimental Experimental music elements of music may have displeased most of the fans. In 1990, he performed in the United States for a Brazilian audience.

Back to the top: 1991-2001

In 1991, his only sister, Goretti, died. Even though, he was able to record his eleventh album, "Brasil Nordeste", and returned to his success times with the recording of the song "Entre a Serpente e a Estrela" for the soapopera "Pedra Sobre Pedra". In 1992, his fifth son, José, was born, and he released the twelfth album "Frevoador". In 1995, he had his first daughter born: Linda.

In 1996, he recorded the album "O Grande Encontro" live with his cousin Elba Ramalho (who had already re-recorded a very successful version of his song "Chão de Giz") and the well known MPB names Alceu Valença and Geraldo Azevedo. In the same year, he released his thirteenth album "Cidades e Lendas". The success of "O Grande Encontro" was so great that he decided to record it again in 1997 at the studio, this time without Alceu Valença though. The record sold 300,000+ copies, going Gold and Platinum. To celebrate his 20 years of career, he released the CD "20 Anos – Antologia Acústica Antologia Acústica ". The record label Sony Music also released a box set containing three discs: one of rarities, one of duets and one of classics. Also to celebrate the 20 years, Brazilian author Luciane Alves released a book titled "Zé Ramalho – um Visionário do século XX" ("Zé Ramalho – a Visioneer of the 20th Century").

Before the end of the millennium, another great hit: Admirável Gado Novo (first released in his second album in 1980) was the opening theme of the soap opera O Rei do Gado. He also released his fourteenth studio album, "Eu Sou Todos Nós", and the sixteenth one, Nação Nordestina, in which he once again explored the music of his home land, the Nordeste. The album would later be a candidate for the Latin Grammy Award for Best Regional Music Album or of Brazilian Origins.

Continuing into the 3rd Millenium: 2001-present

His first work of the 21st Century was the release of "Zé Ramalho canta Raul Seixas", a cover album with songs by Raul Seixas. He then shared stage with Elba Ramalho in the Rock in Rio 3. In 2002, Som Livre releases a CD of his greatest hits, part of its "Perfil" series of Greatest Hits albums. Also in 2002, he released his seventeenth album, O Gosto da Criação.


In 2005, he recorded his only live album, simply titled Zé Ramalho ao vivo. His latter album, Parceria dos Viajantes, was recorded in 2007 and was nominated for the Latin Grammy Award for Best Brazilian Po***r Music Album.


In 2009, a third cover album, Zé Ramalho canta Luiz Gonzaga, was released, paying tribute to the Brazilian musician Luiz Gonzaga .
Studio albums

*1975 - Paêbirú (with Lula Côrtes)
*1978 - "Zé Ramalho Zé Ramalho (album)
*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
*1998 - Eu Sou Todos Nós (Gold )
*2002 - O Gosto da Criação
*2007 - Parceria dos Viajantes

Live albums

*2005 - Zé Ramalho ao vivo


*1991 - Brasil Nordeste
*1997 - Antologia Acústica (Acoustic versions album - Gold, 9x Platinum)
*2000 - Nação Nordestina
*2001 - Zé Ramalho canta Raul Seixas (Raul Seixas cover songs - Gold)
*2002 - Perfil Perfil (Zé Ramalho album) (2x Gold)
*2003 - Estação Brasil
*2008 - Zé Ramalho da Paraíba
*2008 - Zé Ramalho canta Bob Dylan - Tá tudo mudando" (Bob Dylan cover songs)
*2009 - Zé Ramalho canta Luiz Gonzaga (Luiz Gonzaga cover songs)

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) (5x Platinum)
* Xuxa - Arraiá da Xuxa (1997)
* Dominguinhos & Various Artists - Dominguinhos e convidados cantam Luiz Gonzaga (1997)
* Falcão Falcão (musician) - 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 Raimundo Fagner - Amigos e Canções (1998)
* Alcymar Monteiro - Festa Brasileira (1999)
* Elba Ramalho - Solar Solar (album) (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 Prisioneioro (2003)
* Jota Quest - Oxigênio (2003)
* Paulo Cesar Barros & Various Artists - Estrada Estrada (album) (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)



Zé Ramalho



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