Lucio Yanel

Origin

Caxias do Sul, RS

Years active

1960

Genres

regional music, nativist music, folklore

Instruments

guitar, vocals

Biography

Lucio Yanel, born Federico Nelson Giles in Corrientes, Argentina, is a prominent guitarist, singer, composer, and actor who has built a legendary career rooted in Brazilian regional music, particularly in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. After beginning his musical journey in Argentina and performing internationally, including a tour of the former USSR with Raulito Barboza, he moved to Brazil and eventually settled in the southern region. His profound artistry and distinctive guitar style significantly shaped the tradition of solo acoustic guitar in Rio Grande do Sul, helping to establish the foundational school of regional guitar playing.

Upon making his home in Brazil during the early 1980s, Yanel became an essential figure in the local nativist music festival movement and released his landmark debut Brazilian solo album, La del Sentimiento: La guitarra de Lucio Yanel, in 1983. Residing for a time in Passo Fundo, he famously crossed paths with Algacir Costa and mentored a young Yamandu Costa, who would grow up to become one of the world's most renowned guitarists. Over the decades, Yanel has recorded numerous acclaimed albums—such as Guitarra Pampeana and Mistérios do Chamamé—and has collaborated extensively with iconic figures of both Argentine folklore and Southern Brazilian music.

As a pillar of gaucho music, Lucio Yanel successfully bridged the musical traditions of Argentina and Brazil, popularizing genres like chamamé, chacarera, and zamba across southern Brazil. His extensive discography includes collaborative works with celebrated artists such as Renato Borghetti, Luiz Carlos Borges, and Yamandu Costa. In addition to his prolific musical output, Yanel has expanded his artistic footprint into cinema and television, contributing to film soundtracks and acting in prominent regional productions.