João Só

Origin

Teresina, PI

Also known as

João Evangelista de Melo Fortes

Years Active

1971–1992

Genres

MPB, folk

Instruments

cavaquinho, guitar

Biography

João Só, born João Evangelista de Melo Fortes in Teresina on November 3, 1943, was a prominent Brazilian singer and songwriter who built the core of his artistic career in Bahia. Growing up in a large family, he moved to Salvador as a teenager, where he began mastering multiple musical instruments after initially learning the cavaquinho during his childhood. His distinctive artistic moniker was born in the late 1960s while he was working at TV Aratu, when producer David Raw asked for his name and he casually replied, "It's João, only" ("É João, só").

Throughout the 1970s, João Só achieved significant national recognition through music festivals and hit recordings. He first gained widespread attention in 1971 by performing his composition "Canção para Janaína" at the sixth Festival Internacional da Canção, which was soon followed by his biggest commercial success, "Menina da Ladeira". His prolific output during this decade also yielded popular tracks such as "Ando na Velocidade" and "Copacabana", cementing his place in the broader MPB landscape alongside contemporaries like Raul Seixas and Ednardo.

By 1978, João shifted his focus heavily toward live performances, touring extensively across Brazil and releasing numerous albums throughout his two-decade career. Beyond his traditional folk and MPB repertoire, he notably composed the first official anthem for the Londrina Esporte Clube in 1977. After releasing his final album, Lambada do Amor, in 1990, he passed away from a heart attack in Salvador on June 20, 1992, leaving behind a rich legacy of independently spirited Brazilian songwriting.

Discography

• Menina da Ladeira (1971)
• João Só, na Multidão (1971)
• 20 Anos - Qual É a Música? (1992)
• Qual É a Música? - 20 Anos
• Lambada Do Amor