Edvaldo Santana

Edvaldo Santana came from Belém, Pará, where he grew up around the traditional Amazonian folk music called caximbo. He started playing guitar early, and by 1987 he had put out his first album, which was simply titled 'Caximbo.' That record introduced his voice to a wider Brazilian audience, and songs like 'Domingo Blues' and 'Inspirado' became part of his repertoire.

His music drew from those regional rhythms, but he wasn't strictly a traditionalist. He worked with other Brazilian musicians over time, including Milton Nascimento and Gilberto Gil. Santana also performed live, and a 2005 concert recording from the Theatro da Paz captured one of those shows.

He often sang about the Amazon and its people, which made his work more than just entertainment. Tracks like 'O dicionário faliu' and 'Durango Kid' carried that concern. He played with a band that sometimes included his son on guitar and the percussionist Carlinhos Brown.

Santana kept recording and performing, putting out albums into the 2000s. His later songs, such as 'Paulistanóide' and 'Cosme e Damião,' continued to reflect his roots in Pará while speaking to contemporary Brazil.