Manolo & Josiano

Manolo & Josiano came together in the early 1990s in Campina Grande, Paraíba. That city sits in the heart of Brazil's forró country, and both Manoel Bezerra Costa and José Severino dos Santos were drawn to the music. They started playing together, with Manolo handling lead vocals and accordion while Josiano sang and played triangle and tambourine.

Their 2004 song 'Bora Beber' became a kind of signature track for them. It's got that driving percussion and accordion melody that defines a lot of forró, but the lyrics are light and humorous, built for parties. The track's energy made it a staple at celebrations.

They kept recording through the 2000s, putting out albums like 'Sucesso Nacional' in 2006 and 'Forró das Antigas' in 2009. Their sound stayed rooted in the traditional rhythms of the region, even as some in the scene initially questioned their approach. They worked through that and built a following.