Zé Coco do Riachão

Origin

Brasília de Minas, MG

Also known as

José dos Reis Barbosa dos Santos

Years Active

1980–1998

Genres

música caipira, música popular brasileira, instrumental

Instruments

viola, rabeca, acoustic guitar, cavaquinho, accordion, acordeão

Biography

José dos Reis Barbosa dos Santos, known artistically as Zé Coco do Riachão, was a prominent Brazilian instrumentalist, composer, and luthier, born in Brasília de Minas, Minas Gerais, in 1912. Despite his humble origins and lack of formal education, he became a master of various instruments, including the viola, guitar, cavaquinho, and rabeca (a type of Brazilian fiddle). He learned to play and build instruments from his father, also a musician, and developed a unique and virtuosic technique that allowed him to perform solos and accompaniments simultaneously. His music blended popular and erudite elements, encompassing styles like lundus, mazurcas, dobrados, guaianos, corta-jacas, calangos, and maxixes.

Zé Coco do Riachão's career gained national recognition late in life, primarily through the efforts of researcher Téo Azevedo, who discovered him around the age of 70 and gave him the nickname "Riachão." His first album, "Brasil Puro," released in 1980, was lauded by critics, including José Ramos Tinhorão, as a significant expression of Brazilian popular culture. He went on to release two more albums: "Zé Coco do Riachão" (1981) and "Vôo das Garças" (1987). His artistry was so profound that he was dubbed the "Beethoven of the Sertão" by German media, and his work inspired a contemporary dance performance titled "Vôo das Garças."

Beyond his musical talents, Zé Coco was also a skilled craftsman, working as a carpenter, blacksmith, and shoemaker, and constructing various tools and implements. However, his passion for music and instrument making remained central to his life. He was particularly dedicated to playing in Folias de Reis, traditional religious festivals, which he considered a matter of faith. Zé Coco do Riachão passed away in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, in 1998, leaving behind a legacy as a master of traditional Brazilian folk music and a testament to the enduring power of popular culture.