Maurício e Leonardo

Maurício Gusmão and Leonardo Poças started playing together in 1995 in Itumbiara, Goiás. They worked local bars and festivals before putting out their first album in 2000. That record included 'Olhos Escuros,' a song that caught on and helped them find a national audience.

Their music fit into the sertanejo tradition, with straightforward lyrics about love and longing. Songs like 'Eu Quero Amor' and 'Sou Louco Por Você' followed a similar pattern, direct, melodic, and built for singing along. They kept recording through the early 2000s, releasing albums like 'Três Palavras' in 2002 and a live set from Goiânia in 2004.

By then they were a steady presence on Brazilian radio and at shows. The partnership lasted two decades, though it wasn't without bumps, Leonardo faced tax issues in 2015. They left behind a handful of songs that still turn up on sertanejo playlists.