Conjunto Roque Moreira

Conjunto Roque Moreira formed in São José do Egito, Pernambuco, led by accordionist Roque Moreira. They started playing at local festivals before their 1989 debut album brought wider attention. The title track "Magia Nordestina" became something of a regional anthem, with its melody and lyrics drawing from Northeast Brazilian rhythms and stories.

Their music mixed traditional forró and baião with more contemporary arrangements, which sometimes drew criticism from purists who felt they were straying too far from roots music. At one point another group accused them of plagiarism, though they defended their work successfully. Other songs like "A Revolta Dos Que Não Foram" and "Vendedor de Cajuína" continued in this vein of updated regional sounds.

They put out several albums through the 1990s including "Forró do Sertão" in 1991 and "Baião Moderna" in 1995, along with a tribute to Luiz Gonzaga in 1997. The group's recordings captured a particular moment when Northeast Brazilian music was finding new audiences while navigating questions about tradition and change.