Zeca Barreto

Origin

Ubaitaba, BA

Years Active

1974

Genres

MPB, pop, latin american fusion, song and trova, samba

Instruments

acoustic guitar, electric guitar, cavaquinho, viola caipira

Biography

José Carlos Barreto, artistically known as Zeca Barreto, was born in Ubaitaba, Bahia, on June 6, 1955. From an early age, he showed an interest in music, learning to play the guitar as a self-taught musician, influenced by the harmonic richness of new Brazilian music and the work of João Gilberto. His musical interest expanded to instruments such as the cavaquinho and the viola caipira, also exploring more folkloric and Northeastern musical styles. In 1974, he participated in the Experimental Music Workshop at the University of Bahia, where he came into contact with renowned Tropicália artists, such as Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso.

Throughout his career, Zeca Barreto stood out as a singer, composer, and instrumentalist, exploring genres such as MPB, pop, and Latin American fusion. His work is marked by partnerships with various Brazilian artists, such as Moraes Moreira, Armandinho Macedo, and Fausto Nilo, with whom he composed songs that were included in albums by artists such as Ney Matogrosso and Nana Caymmi. Barreto also played an important role in Chile, where he contributed to the dissemination of Brazilian popular music and helped establish an emerging audience for the genre in the country.

Zeca Barreto released several albums throughout his career, including "Eterno Cantar" (1984), "Baiano Fala Cantando" (1988), "Brasileirô" (1996), and "Bahião com H" (2000). His discography demonstrates the versatility and depth of his work, which moves between Brazilian sounds and international influences. In 2021, he released the DVD "Mundo Breve Ao Vivo", recorded in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, cementing his presence in the Brazilian music scene.

Discography

• Meus Quatro Cantos (2008)
• Longe (2013)
• Longe (Ao Vivo) (2016)
• Mundo Breve (Ao Vivo) (2022)
• Ventre do Sol Latino (2023)