Elba Ramalho

Born in Conceição, in the state of Paraíba, and raised in Campina Grande before settling in Rio de Janeiro in the mid-1970s, Elba Ramalho has established herself in Brazilian music by circulating the Nordeste repertoires between forró, baião, xote, frevo, maracatu and MPB. After beginnings in theater and regional festivals, followed by a stint with the group As Brasas, Elba Ramalho recorded her first album Ave de Prata in 1979. The records Capim do Vale (1980), Alegria (1982), Coração Brasileiro (1983), Do Jeito Que a Gente Gosta (1984) and Fogo na Mistura (1985) accompany the widening of her audience, with expressive singing, a strong stage dimension inherited from theater and work that blends popular Northeast traditions, Brazilian song and more urban arrangements. Over the decades, Elba Ramalho alternates solo projects and collaborations with artists such as Dominguinhos, Luiz Gonzaga, Alceu Valença, Geraldo Azevedo and Zé Ramalho, notably in the series O Grande Encontro from 1996. Her discography continues with Leão do Norte (1996), Baioque (1997), Solar (1999), Elba Canta Luiz (2002), Baião de Dois with Dominguinhos (2005), Qual o Assunto Que Mais Lhe Interessa? (2007), Balaio de Amor (2009), Vambora Lá Dançar (2013), Cordas, Gonzaga e Afins (2015) and O Ouro do Pó da Estrada (2019). Present in both the major São João celebrations and on international stages, Elba Ramalho remains associated with a broad and lively reading of Northeast Brazilian music.