João Lopes

João Lopes came from Cambé, a small town in Paraná, Brazil, where he grew up listening to sertanejo artists like Luiz Gonzaga and Tião Carreiro. He moved to Curitiba in the late 1970s and started playing in local bars with a band. In 1983, he put out his first album, which included the song 'Bicho do Paraná.' That track caught on quickly and became his most recognizable work.

Some traditional sertanejo listeners weren't sure about his approach, feeling it leaned too much toward pop. But he kept making music his own way. Other songs like 'Morar na Roça' and 'Tarde de Domingo' also found an audience. He toured around Brazil and recorded more albums after that initial success.