Os Muripás

Os Muripás formed in 1978 in Crato, Ceará, in Brazil's northeast. The group included Zé Ramalho on vocals and guitar, Ednardo on rhythm guitar, Genésio on accordion, and Chico Chico on percussion. They worked with the region's traditional rhythms, but their sound wasn't strictly folk, it had some rock and psychedelic touches, and their lyrics often dealt with social themes and local landscapes.

Their 1981 song "Chão Batido" became widely known in Brazil. It's a good example of what they did: a melodic, poetic track about rural life that connected with both country and city listeners. Other songs like "De La Frontera" and "Querência Azul" show the same blend of regional roots and broader musical curiosity.

They built a following through recordings and live shows, though their politically tinged material sometimes drew criticism. The existing history cuts off mid-sentence about their discography, so it's hard to say much more. They were active at least into the early 1980s, making music that felt specific to their part of Brazil without being confined by it.