Jorge Aragão is a Brazilian singer, composer and samba artist from Rio de Janeiro, born in 1949. He is associated with samba, pagode and MPB, and he also works in xote, samba-rock and samba funk.

Career

Aragão begins his career in samba in the 1970s, first as a guitarist playing in dances and nightclubs. He develops a reputation for working outside the traditional samba circles while still drawing on the genre’s established figures, including Candeia, Roberto Ribeiro and Monarco.

As a songwriter, he comes to prominence in 1976 when Elza Soares records his composition Malandro, written with Jotabê. He later becomes a member of Fundo de Quintal, a group central to the development of pagode, and serves as one of its main composers and lyricists before leaving to focus on a solo career.

Solo work and recordings

His first solo album, Jorge Aragão, is released in 1981 on Ariola. He goes on to release twelve albums and performs in cities across Brazil as well as on tours in the United States.

His later recordings include live CDs such as Ao vivo 1 and Ao vivo 2, the live album Jorge Aragão Ao vivo Convida on Indie Records, and the studio album Da Noite pro Dia, followed by a live DVD recorded at the Canecão in Rio de Janeiro. Another album, E aí?, also receives a positive response. He also releases the single Um samba avassalador.

Key songs and collaborators

Aragão’s best-known songs include Coisinha do Pai, written with Almir Guineto and Luiz Carlos; Claridade; Vou Festejar; Coisa de Pele; Alvará; Terceira Pessoa; Amigos… Amantes; Do Fundo do Nosso Quintal; and Enredo do Meu Samba. Several of these songs are recorded by major samba performers such as Beth Carvalho, Alcione, Zeca Pagodinho and Martinho da Vila.

Coisinha do Pai, a tribute to his daughter Vânia, becomes especially notable after Beth Carvalho’s recording and is later used to help wake the Mars Pathfinder robot on Mars. Claridade is inspired by his daughter Tânia, while Vou Festejar also becomes widely known through Carvalho’s version and is adopted as a football chant.

Broadcast and carnival work

Aragão is also known as a commentator on Rio de Janeiro carnival parade broadcasts on TV Globo, Manchete and later on the CNT project Carnaval do Povão. He also composes the theme for Globeleza with Franco Lattari.

Recognition

His 40 years of career are marked in 2016 by the Samba Book project from Musickeria, a box set containing biography, DVD, CDs and sheet music. The project receives a nomination for the 2017 Latin Grammy Award for Best Samba/Pagode Album.