Raul Ellwanger

Origin

Porto Alegre, RS

Years active

1966

Genres

mpb, folk music, regional music

Instruments

guitar, vocals

Biography

Raul Moura Ellwanger is a Brazilian musician and composer born in Porto Alegre on November 17, 1947. He began his artistic career in the university circuit of Porto Alegre in 1966 and quickly became involved with the Frente Gaúcha da Música Popular. His early political engagement and provocative compositions against the military dictatorship, such as the song "O gaúcho," led to his involvement with the armed resistance during the 1960s, subsequent political imprisonment, and eventual exile in Chile and Argentina following the tightening of the military regime.

During his years in exile, Ellwanger continued to write music, producing notable works such as "O pequeno exilado" and "Te Procuro Lá," the latter set to lyrics by Ferreira Gullar. Following his return to Brazil in 1979 under the amnesty, he released his debut album, "Teimoso e Vivo," which featured collaborations with prominent artists like Wagner Tiso. Throughout his decades-long career, he released numerous acclaimed albums including "Gaudério" and "Portuñol," and composed memorable soundtracks for television and theater, establishing himself as a significant figure in Brazilian popular music.

Ellwanger's extensive body of work includes widely recognized compositions such as "Pealo de sangue," which has been recorded across multiple countries and languages and voted one of the top songs in the history of Rio Grande do Sul. His songs have been interpreted by legendary artists including Elis Regina, Mercedes Sosa, and Beth Carvalho, cementing his enduring legacy in Latin American and Brazilian musical culture alongside contemporaries like Renato Borghetti and Paulinho Tapajós.