Galo Preto

The group was formed out of sheer fun when friends Afonso Machado, José Maria Braga, and Alexandre Paiva began to play together on Sundays after the weekly soccer game (peladas). After experienced composer/musician Claudionor Cruz's positive evaluation, the Conjunto Galo Preto was formed. In the decades to come, the group would always firmly keep their ideals of renovating the choro idiom with no commercial concerns, being regarded both nationally and internationally as one of the most important choro groups. Along with their solo work, they've accompanied acts like Nelson Cavaquinho, Hermeto Pascoal, Elton Medeiros, Raphael Rabello, Cartola, Elza Soares, Délcio Carvalho, Billy Blanco, Ademilde Fonseca, and many others. Having recorded only four solo LPs, the first (Galo Preto, RCA) was released in 1978, in the same year in which they accompanied Cartola in the show Acontece. The independent Galo Preto (1981) followed. Bem-Te-Vi, Galo Preto was released in 1992 and was nominated for the Sharp prize. Só Paulinho da Viola (Leblon, 1995), dedicated to the famous composer, had "Maxixe Do Galo" written specially by him for this album. With Elton Medeiros and Nelson Sargento, they recorded the CD Só Cartola. The group has also been teaching courses throughout Brazil and performing abroad (Mexico, 1986, Sweden, 1991, and Portugal). In 1998, they represented Brazil at the Expo-98 in Lisbon, Portugal.