Cleudo Freire

Origin

Natal, RN

Years Active

1980s

Genres

MPB, samba, coco de roda, funk, soul, baião, xote

Instruments

guitar

Biography

Cleudo Freire is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, and guitarist who began his artistic career in the early 1980s performing in bars. He participated in the Projeto Pixinguinha in 1985 and has opened shows for prominent artists such as Fagner, Pena Branca e Xavantinho, and Mestre Ambrósio. In 1993, he was a finalist in the Canta Nordeste festival, promoted by Rede Globo Nordeste and TV Cabugi. Freire's music often explores themes related to Afro-Brazilian culture, particularly from Rio Grande do Norte.

In 1998, Freire released his debut CD, "Zambê," which serves as a tribute to the black culture of Rio Grande do Norte. The album features a fusion of rhythms including coco de roda, funk, soul, baião, and xote. Notably, "Zambê" includes a musical interpretation of the poem "Banzo" by Câmara Cascudo, originally published in the Revista Antropofagia in 1927. His work is recognized for its blend of traditional Brazilian sounds with contemporary influences.

Freire's discography also includes compositions like "Aponto pro futuro," "Banana reggae" (co-written with Rildo Lima and Bethoven), "Brocoió," and "Lua cigana" (co-written with Moraes Ventura and Nelson Coelho). He has also authored "Papo jerimum: dicionário rimado de termos populares," a rhyming dictionary of popular terms from Rio Grande do Norte, published around 2006. His artistic contributions highlight his role as a cultural preserver and innovator within Brazilian music.