Palmeira e Biá

Origin

Agudos, SP

Years Active

1952–1965

Genres

sertanejo, música caipira

Instruments

sanfona, acordeão, viola

Biography

Palmeira e Biá was an influential sertaneja duo formed in 1952 by Diogo Mulero (Palmeira) and Sebastião Alves da Cunha (Biá). Palmeira, born in Agudos, SP, in 1918, had previously formed a duo with Luizinho, while Biá, a native of Coromandel, MG, came from a partnership with Mariano. The duo began their career with a tour through northern Paraná and, upon returning to São Paulo, were hired by Rádio Piratininga for a weekly show. Accompanied by accordionist Alberto Calçada, they recorded their first album in 1953, with RCA Victor, releasing the waltz "Nossa Senhora das Graças" and the galop "Arroz a Carretero".

Throughout their trajectory, Palmeira and Biá stood out for their high productivity, recording around ten 78 rpm records in their first year of activity. They not only performed their own compositions, but also those of renowned composers of the time, such as Teddy Vieira and Nhô Pai. In 1954, they began touring the country accompanied by accordionist Mário Zan. Hits like the toada "Couro de Boi" and the moda "Disco Voador" solidified the duo as "The Colonels of Sertaneja Music", a title that reflects their importance and popularity.

The duo also innovated by addressing new themes and arrangements in their songs, as in "Boneca Cobiçada", which inspired a film of the same name and became a milestone in sertaneja music. Palmeira, in addition to his work as a singer and songwriter, also served as artistic director at RCA Victor and general director at Chantecler. The partnership between Palmeira and Biá, which lasted until 1965, left a significant legacy for sertaneja music, with songs that became classics and continue to be revered.

Discography

• Baião da Serra Grande (1979)
• Clássicos Sertanejo (2024)