Moacir Laurentino

Origin

Paulista, PB

Also known as

Moacir Cosme de Lima

Years Active

1954

Genres

repente, cantoria, northeastern music, popular poetry

Instruments

viola

Biography

Moacir Laurentino, whose birth name is Moacir Cosme de Lima, was born on February 13, 1945, in the city of Paulista, Paraíba. From an early age, he showed an aptitude for the art of repente, encouraged by his father, who was also a singer and cordel poet. By the age of nine, he was already singing repentes, and at seventeen, he moved to Mossoró, in Rio Grande do Norte, where he hosted the radio program "Retalhos do Nordeste." His career was solidified when he formed a duo with Sebastião da Silva in 1975, a partnership that lasted for 31 years and left a significant mark on northeastern popular music.

Throughout his career, Moacir Laurentino hosted other radio programs, such as "Viola e Violeiros" in Limoeiro, Ceará, between 1970 and 1974. His body of work is vast and includes several albums recorded in partnership with Sebastião da Silva, such as "Nordeste e Violas" (1976), "Os Maiorais do Repente" (1980), "Viola, Verso e Cultura" (1981), and "Sua Majestade a Viola" (1985). His music is deeply rooted in northeastern culture, celebrating life in the sertão, traditions, and popular poetry.

Moacir Laurentino is recognized as an exceptional singer and storyteller, with a strong and striking voice. His art transcends generations, having been honored in programs such as "De Repente na Rede," by Funesc, and admired by artists like Alceu Valença and Wesley Safadão. Even with the passing years, his passion for cantoria and improvised poetry remains alive, inspiring new talents and keeping the flame of Brazilian popular culture burning.

Discography

• Moacir Laurentino e Sebastião da Silva – Nordeste e Violas (1976)
• Moacir Laurentino e Sebastião da Silva – Violas da Minha Terra (1978)
• Sebastião da Silva e Moacir Laurentino – Os Maiorais do Repente (1980)
• Moacir Laurentino e Sebastião da Silva – Viola, Verso e Cultura (1981)
• Moacir Laurentino e Sebastião da Silva – Violas de Canto a Canto (1982)
• Moacir Laurentino e Sebastião da Silva – Viola Verdade e Vida (1983)
• Sua Majestade, a Viola (1985)
• No Meio da Caminhada (2012)
• Vaquejadas e Poemas (2021)
• Cantos de Nossa Terra (2024)