Jackson do Pandeiro

Origin

Alagoa Grande, PB

Also known as

José Gomes Filho, José Gomes da Silva, Jack do Pandeiro, Zé Jack do Pandeiro, O Rei do Ritmo

Years Active

1940–1982

Genres

baião, coco, forró, rojão, samba-coco, MPB

Instruments

pandeiro, zabumba, bateria, bongô

Biography

Jackson do Pandeiro, stage name of José Gomes Filho, was born in Alagoa Grande and established himself as one of the greatest icons of Brazilian music, being widely recognized as "The King of Rhythm". The son of a coco singer, he began his musical journey in childhood playing the zabumba before mastering the drums, the bongo and, finally, the tambourine. After experiencing financial difficulties in his hometown and in Campina Grande, he moved to João Pessoa and Recife, where he turned professional on the radio and joined important orchestras, definitively adopting the stage name that consecrated him.

In the 1950s, he moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he recorded his first major hits, such as "Forró em Limoeiro" and "Sebastiana", composed by partners like Rosil Cavalcanti. On Rádio Nacional, he achieved enormous national projection with classics of the caliber of "Chiclete com Banana", "O Canto da Ema" and "Um a Um". His impressive rhythmic ability allowed him to navigate naturally through genres such as baião, coco, samba-coco, rojão and carnival marchinhas, influencing generations of artists, including major bossa nova names like João Gilberto. Alongside Luiz Gonzaga, he was fundamental in projecting and nationalizing the richness of northeastern musical culture.

Even facing periods of ostracism with the emergence of Jovem Guarda and new musical currents, he maintained his artistic prestige and a vast discography that surpassed thirty albums. His career was marked by striking partnerships, such as the one established with Almira Castilho, and by a trajectory of persistence and technical genius. Jackson do Pandeiro passed away in 1982, in Brasília, victim of complications from an embolism, leaving an indelible legacy in the history of Brazilian Popular Music.

Discography

• Jackson do Pandeiro com Conjunto e Côro (1955)
• Forró do Jackson (1956)
• Jackson e Almira – Os Donos do Ritmo (1958)
• Jackson Do Pandeiro Volume 1: Tum, Tum, Tum! (1958)
• Jackson Do Pandeiro (1959)
• Sua Majestade - O Rei Do Ritmo (1960)
• Cantando de Norte a Sul (1960)
• Jackson do Pandeiro Volume 2: Chiclete com Banana! (1960)
• Mais Ritmo (1961)
• Melodia, Ritmo e a Personalidade (1961)
• Jackson do Pandeiro, Almira, Reis da Batucada – ... É Batucada! (1962)
• Jackson do Pandeiro e Almira – A Alegria da Casa (1962)
• Jackson do Pandeiro & Almira – Forró do Zé Lagoa (1963)
• Jackson do Pandeiro, Almira e Zé Calixto – Caminho da Roça (1963)
• Jackson do Pandeiro e Almira, Alventino Cavalcante, Zé Calixto, Borrachinha – São João no Brejo (1964)
• Jackson do Pandeiro e Almira – ... e Vamos Nós! (1964)
• Jackson do Pandeiro e Almira – Tem Jabaculê (1964)
• Jackson Do Pandeiro & Almira – Coisas Nossas (1965)
• O Cabra da Peste (1966)
• É Sucesso (1967)
• A Braza Do Norte (1967)
• Aqui Tô Eu (1970)
• O Dono do Forró (1971)
• Sina de Cigarra (1972)
• Tem Mulher, Tô Lá (1973)
• Nossas Raízes (1974)
• A Tuba da Muié (1975)
• Um Nordestino Alegre (1977)
• Alegria Minha Gente (1978)
• Grandes Compositores (1979)
• Isso É que É Forró! (1981)
• Casaca de Couro (1995)
• Ao Vivo (2011)
• Na Corrente (Larry Skg Remix) (2017)
• Caminho da Roça (2019)
• Forró em Limoeiro (2019)
• São João do Brejo (2019)
• 28 Músicas Chiclet com Banana (2019)
• Forró e Alegria - The Rhythm of Jackson do Pandeiro (2025)
• Jackson do Pandeiro & Almira, Alventino Cavalcante, Zé Calixto e Borrachinha – São João no Brejo Nº 2