Zé do Baião

José Gonzaga do Nascimento, known as Zé do Baião, was born in 1915 in Exu, Pernambuco. He started playing accordion as a child, learning from the folk traditions around him. In the early 1940s, he spent time in prison for political reasons, though he kept composing music while incarcerated.

After his release, he recorded steadily for decades with his band Os Filhos de Exu. The group included accordionist José Antônio Silva (Biu), percussionist Benedito José da Silva (Bené), and flutist João Gomes de Araújo (João do Pife). Zé do Baião worked with other Brazilian musicians like Luiz Gonzaga, Jackson do Pandeiro, and Gilberto Gil.

His song 'A Vendinha da Feira' became one of his most recognizable recordings. Other tracks like 'Ingratidão' and 'Ela Voltou' show his way with straightforward, rhythmic forró that felt both local and widely accessible. He died in 1979.