Tião Carreiro e Pardinho

Tião Carreiro and Pardinho started playing together in the early 1950s, performing at local events around the Brazilian countryside. Antônio de Góes Ferreira, who became Tião Carreiro, was from Monte Azul Paulista, while José Alves dos Santos, known as Pardinho, came from Araguari in Minas Gerais. They built their sound around Carreiro's guitar and Pardinho's viola caipira, with both handling vocals.

Their 1965 album 'Rei do Gado' gave them one of their most recognizable songs, which shares its name with the record. Other tracks like 'Boiada Cuiabana' and 'Chora Viola' became staples in their setlists, often mixing humor with rural themes. They kept recording through the 1970s, putting out albums like 'Viola Caipira' in 1972.

Some critics at the time questioned whether their lighthearted approach trivialized serious subjects, but their music found a steady audience anyway. They worked with other musicians occasionally, including Lourival dos Santos on viola caipira. Their partnership lasted until Pardinho's death in 1988, with Carreiro continuing to perform afterward.