José Rico

Origin

São José do Belmonte, PE

Also known as

José Rico Alves dos Santos

Years active

1960–2015

Genres

música sertaneja, sertanejo raiz

Instruments

voz

Biography

José Rico, stage name of José Alves dos Santos (São José do Belmonte, June 29, 1946 – Americana, March 3, 2015), was a celebrated Brazilian singer and instrumentalist, nationally recognized as the harmony vocalist of the legendary sertaneja duo Milionário & José Rico, nicknamed "The Golden Throats of Brazil." Born in Pernambuco and raised in Paraná, the artist stood out for his unmistakable vocal power, in addition to his striking stage aesthetic, characterized by dark glasses, jewelry, and one painted fingernail. Throughout a career spanning over four decades, he recorded dozens of highly successful albums and achieved impressive sales figures, receiving certifications such as the triple platinum record for the classic album Estrada da Vida (1977).

In addition to his journey in sertaneja music, José Rico also briefly ventured into cinema, starring alongside Milionário in widely popular biographical productions such as Na Estrada da Vida (1983), directed by Nelson Pereira dos Santos, and Sonhei com Você (1988). Between 1991 and 1993, with the temporary dissolution of the duo, the singer invested in his solo career, releasing works such as the albums Voltei pra Ficar (1992) and Uma Luz em Meu Caminho (1993), before definitively returning to the stage alongside his eternal partner Romeu Matos, Milionário.

The artist passed away in March 2015, the victim of a cardiac arrest in Americana, São Paulo, leaving a vast cultural and musical legacy for the sertanejo genre. His unique figure remains alive in the memory of fans and in the history of Brazilian popular music, being compared and remembered alongside great exponents such as Michel Teló and other icons of traditional country music. His iconic unfinished castle in Limeira remained one of the great picturesque symbols of his artistic and personal journey.