Zé Emílio

Zé Emílio was born in Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, a town in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands. The region's traditional music, particularly the sound of the viola, shaped his approach. His song 'Pantaneira' from 1984 became his most recognizable work, painting scenes of the landscape and its people.

He kept writing, and his music became associated with giving voice to those on the margins. He worked with other musicians from the region, like Almir Sater, and collaborated with poet Manoel de Barros on the 1997 album 'Cantos do Pantanal'.

Other songs like 'Alguém Ao Lado' and 'Da Portaria (Chega Logo Amor)' round out his catalog. His recordings, often centered on the viola, document a particular place and sound over several decades.