Os Valetes

Os Valetes formed in Lisbon in 1964 with José Barata Ribeiro on vocals, Carlos Mendes on guitar, Fernando Mendes on bass, and Joaquim Costa on drums. They were part of that wave of Portuguese groups in the 1960s that looked to the Beatles and folk revival sounds, trying to make something that felt more current than the traditional fado that dominated the scene at the time.

Their 1971 single "Pinto Pequeno" became their biggest hit, a satirical take on political corruption that managed to find an audience despite its provocative nature. You can hear their range on other tracks like the ballad "Ainda Penso Em Você" or the more driving "Somente Ela."

They released albums through the 1960s and into the 1970s, including their self-titled debut in 1965 and the "Pinto Pequeno" album in 1971. The band's catalog has remained part of the Portuguese pop conversation, a reference point for that particular moment when local groups began blending international pop influences with their own perspectives.