Chico Salles

Origin

Sousa, PB

Years Active

1997–2017

Genres

forró, MPB, samba

Instruments

vocals

Biography

Francisco de Salles Araújo, known artistically as Chico Salles, was born in Sousa, Paraíba, in 1951, and passed away in Rio de Janeiro on November 25, 2017. A singer, songwriter, and cordel poet, he moved to Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, bringing with him the musical influences of his homeland, such as Jackson do Pandeiro and Luiz Gonzaga, while also absorbing the sounds of MPB and Rio samba over the years. He became a member and cultural director of the Brazilian Academy of Cordel Literature (ABLC), also standing out in the literary scene with various publications focused on cordel and children's literature.

His recorded music career began late, in 2000, with the release of his debut album, "Confissões". From then on, he consolidated a discography primarily focused on traditional northeastern rhythms, such as forró, xote, and baião, on acclaimed albums like "Nordestino Carioca" and "Forrozando", the latter nominated for the TIM Brazilian Music Award. Throughout his career, he worked with renowned instrumentalists and producers, in addition to paying notable tributes to important names in Brazilian culture, such as on albums dedicated to the repertoire of Sergio Sampaio and the compositions of Rosil Cavalcanti.

Artistically, Chico Salles moved with ease between the backcountry and the metropolis, dialoguing with great exponents of national music such as Zeca Baleiro, Fagner, and Alceu Maia. His discographic and literary work remains an important record of the preservation of northeastern traditions and cordel literature within the urban context of Rio de Janeiro, a city that welcomed him and from which he received the title of Honorary Citizen in 2008.

Discography

• Forrozando (2004)
• O Bicho Pega (2010)
• Sérgio Samba Sampaio (2013)
• Rosil do Brasil por Chico Salles (2015)
• Sérgio Samba Sampaio (Ao Vivo) (2017)