André Moralles

André Moralles came up in Salvador, Bahia, where he started playing in local bands as a teenager. He put out his first album, 'Axé e Alegria,' in 1996. The track 'Responde Tiringa' from that record caught on quickly, becoming a staple of Bahia's carnival scene with its upbeat rhythm and playful lyrics.

That song's popularity brought Moralles wider attention and led to more albums like 'Vem Dançar' and 'Alegria Contagiante.' But the success of 'Responde Tiringa' also sparked a legal dispute when another producer accused him of lifting the melody. Moralles denied it, though the case lingered.

He kept recording after that, with albums such as 'Axé Bahia' in 2002. Other songs like 'Som da Bazuca' and 'Casa Das Piriguetes' also became part of his set. While his later work didn't match the earlier commercial peak, he held onto a core audience in Brazil's axé scene.