O Bando de Maria formed in Bahia in 1995, with founding members Chico Evangelista and Alexandre Leão drawing from local street music and rhythms like samba and reggae. Maria Helena Bernardes later joined, adding vocals and accordion to the mix. Their debut album came out in 1997, followed by others like 'Quatro Cantos' in 2000 and 'Flor de Iró' in 2005.
Their song 'Saudade de Itaúnas' became particularly well-known, though some have noted it was originally written by another artist. Other tracks in their catalog include 'A Morena e a Cachaça' and 'Triângulo Amoroso'. The band has faced some criticism about commercializing traditional sounds, but they've kept working with their own approach.
They've released several albums over time, including 'Puro Bando' in 2008, 'O Bando Canta Gonzagão' in 2012, and 'Um Só Coração' in 2021. The group includes Roberto Barreto on guitar, André Lessa on drums, and Luciano Mota on percussion alongside the core members.
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