Barrosinho

Origin

Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ

Also known as

José Carlos Barroso

Years active

1970–2009

Genres

samba, maracatu, soul, jazz, funk

Instruments

trompete

Biography

José Carlos Barroso, artistically known as Barrosinho, was born in Campos dos Goytacazes in 1943 and established himself as one of the great trumpeters and arrangers in Brazilian music. Starting his career in the 1970s, he joined important Afro-Brazilian music formations, standing out in fundamental groups such as Abolição, led by Dom Salvador, and the legendary Banda Black Rio, in addition to collaborating with icons like Tim Maia and Gerson King Combo.

Throughout his career, Barrosinho stood out for his unique musicality and remarkable ability as a vocal arranger, moving fluidly through genres such as samba, maracatu, jazz, and soul music. He was also the creator of Maracatamba, a project with which he recorded live at the Montreux Festival in 1988, and participated in landmark records of the Black movement in music, such as the album Alma Negra, alongside artists like Tony Tornado and Lady Zu.

In addition to his musical legacy, Barrosinho was an active defender of awareness and the appreciation of Black culture in Brazilian society, using his art to elevate the historical and social importance of Black people. He passed away in Rio de Janeiro in 2009, a victim of multiple organ failure resulting from circulatory complications, leaving an indelible mark on the history of instrumental and Black music in the country.