Ras Bernardo

Origin

Aimorés, MG

Also known as

Sebastião Francisco Bernardo

Years active

1980

Genres

reggae

Instruments

vocal

Biography

Ras Bernardo, stage name of Sebastião Francisco Bernardo, was born in Aimorés on July 7, 1962. He is a renowned Brazilian reggae singer and songwriter, having achieved national notoriety as the first lead singer of the iconic band Cidade Negra, a project he helped found and establish in the country's music scene.

During the 1980s, he actively participated in the original lineup that went through names like Novo Tempo and Lumiar before adopting the final designation Cidade Negra. At the helm of the group, he recorded the first two albums of his career, Lute para Viver and Negro no Poder, charting striking hits like Falar a Verdade and Nada Mudou. His trajectory with the band also included historic milestones abroad, such as performances in France and the historic participation in the Reggae SunSplash festival in Jamaica.

After leaving the group in 1994, when he was succeeded by Toni Garrido, Ras Bernardo pursued his artistic path by investing in a solid solo career. He released albums such as Atitude Pátria, Jah é Luz, and Direção ao Leste, in addition to performing in the soundsystem format and joining parallel projects with former road partners, such as guitarist Da Gama and drummer Lazão.