Galego Aboiador

Origin

Itabaiana, PB

Also known as

Severino Pereira da Silva

Years active

1977

Genres

forró, música nordestina, aboio, toada de vaquejada

Instruments

voice

Biography

Severino Pereira da Silva, known artistically as Galego Aboiador, was born on May 31, 1947, in Itabaiana, Paraíba. He is a celebrated singer and songwriter whose work deeply explores the life of the vaqueiro (cowboy) and the traditional rodeos (vaquejadas) of Brazil's Northeast. His distinctive singing style reproduces the "aboio," the traditional call used by cowboys to herd cattle, a practice that forms the core of his artistic identity.

Galego Aboiador's career began to gain momentum in 1977 when he recorded his first LP for Beverly Records. This album featured self-penned songs like "O sofrer do fazendeiro quando há seca no sertão" (The suffering of the farmer during drought) and "Sou vaqueiro apaixonado" (I am a passionate cowboy). Throughout the 1980s, he continued to release successful LPs, including "A fazenda beira-rio" and "Pranto e morte de um vaqueiro." In 2000, EMI released a compilation CD titled "Galego Aboiador" in the "Raízes nordestinas" (Northeastern Roots) series, showcasing twenty of his most popular hits.

His music is characterized by its authentic portrayal of rural life, the challenges faced by farmers and cowboys, and the cultural richness of the sertão. Galego Aboiador's influence extends beyond his recordings; he has inspired generations of artists in the Northeastern cultural scene, solidifying his legacy as a vital figure in Brazilian folk music. He is often referred to as "The King of the Aboiadores" and "The King of Vaquejadas."