Paulo Ró

Origin

João Pessoa, PB

Years Active

1972

Genres

MPB, folk music, experimental music, regional music

Instruments

vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion, viola nordestina

Biography

Paulo Roberto do Nascimento, known professionally as Paulo Ró, is a prominent Brazilian singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, poet, and cultural activist born in João Pessoa, Paraíba. Emerging as a vital creative force in Paraíba's music scene since the 1970s, he co-founded the influential cultural guerrilla collective Jaguaribe Carne alongside his brother Pedro Osmar. His artistic formation was deeply rooted in Northeastern folklore, classical music, and experimental sounds, leading him to become a central figure in the Musiclube da Paraíba movement during the military dictatorship.

Throughout his career, Paulo Ró has balanced his work with Jaguaribe Carne with a diverse solo career and numerous collaborative projects. His discography spans avant-garde instrumental works, folk-infused explorations like Cantus Popularis, and musical adaptations of poetry, such as albums recorded with Ronald Claver and Fábio Kerouac. Known for blending traditional Brazilian rhythms like ciranda and coco de roda with modern elements, his compositions have been recorded by prominent national artists such as Elba Ramalho, Zeca Baleiro, and Chico César, cementing his legacy in Brazilian independent music.

Discography

• Cantus Popularis (2011)