Gedeão da Viola

Origin

Limeira, SP

Also known as

Gedeão Nogueira

Years Active

1980–2005

Genres

música caipira, instrumental

Instruments

viola caipira, acoustic guitar

Biography

Gedeão da Viola, artistic name of Gedeão Nogueira, was born in Limeira on April 16, 1945, and passed away in Barretos on July 27, 2005. A prominent traditional caipira music viol player and composer, he had contact with the Catira dance in the Piracicaba region during his childhood. Before establishing himself as a musician, he worked as a craftsman repairing stringed instruments, a cattle wrangler, and a rodeo instructor. In the capital of São Paulo and in Barretos, he built a solid reputation as a master of the caipira viola, even developing a fast and original technique named "aranhado".

His artistic career is marked by important recordings and collaborations, having accompanied the legendary Tião Carreiro for years and worked alongside producers such as Téo Azevedo. His instrumental album "Pau-Brasil", released in 1988, became a landmark and had its title track used for over a decade as the opening theme of the program "Viola, minha viola", hosted by Inezita Barroso on TV Cultura. Gedeão also performed in special television programs such as "Violeiros do Brasil" alongside exponents of the genre like Almir Sater, in addition to leaving his mark on festivals and telenovela soundtracks.

Recognized as one of the leading instrumentalists of authentic viola in Brazil, Gedeão da Viola trained several disciples and recorded acclaimed albums such as "Solos de viola em dose dupla" and "Toque aranhado". His work remains a fundamental reference for the preservation and appreciation of popular caipira culture, keeping the tradition of viola solos alive in Barretos and throughout the state of São Paulo.

Discography

• Pau Brasil (1988)
• Solos de Viola em Dose Dupla (2002)
• Música Caipira Autêntica de São Paulo, Região de Barretos: Vol.1 (2011)
• Toque Aranhando (2015)