Ronaldo Barcellos

Origin

Duque de Caxias, RJ

Years Active

1977

Genres

samba, pagode, MPB, soul, funk, pop

Instruments

vocals, trumpet

Biography

Ronaldo Barcellos is a renowned Brazilian musician, composer, singer, and journalist born in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro. His musical background includes the church in Imbariê and the National School of Music of UFRJ, where he built a solid foundation before working as a trumpeter and singer in famous suburban dance bands from Rio de Janeiro, such as Lafayette and Os Devaneios. With hundreds of compositions recorded throughout his career, he has stood out for his eclecticism, moving naturally through genres such as samba, pagode, MPB, soul, funk, and pop.

Throughout decades of his career, he became one of the most sought-after studio vocalists and songwriters in the Rio-São Paulo axis, collaborating with major icons of national music such as Milton Nascimento, Roberto Carlos, Gal Costa, and Tim Maia. In the 1990s, he achieved enormous popular exposure as the lead singer of the group Ronaldo e os Barcellos, formed alongside his children, landing striking hits on radio and television stations across the country, such as the track "Feliz Aniversário". As a prolific songwriter, his works have been recorded by various exponents of samba and MPB, including names like Zeca Pagodinho, Alcione, and Arlindo Cruz.

His artistic versatility also led him to record iconic themes for Japanese tokusatsu series and to remain active in the contemporary music scene. In 2021, he further expanded his public recognition by participating in the first season of Rede Globo's show The Voice +, where he was part of Claudia Leitte's team and reached the competition's final, crowning a career dedicated to the diversity and excellence of Brazilian music.