Zeca Bota Bom

Zeca Bota Bom came out of Pernambuco in the 1990s, led by the singer and songwriter who gave the band its name. Their music took cues from vaqueiro traditions, the cowboy culture of Brazil's sertão region, and mixed in some reggae, rock, and soul. Their debut album in 1996 was called 'Vaqueiro Original,' and that song became something of an anthem for them.

They put out a handful of records through the late '90s and 2000s, including 'Sem Medo da Morte' in 1999 and 'O Último Vaqueiro' in 2006. The band's lineup included João Bebe on guitar, André Leão on bass, and Bené on drums. They worked with other Brazilian artists like Chico Science and Carlinhos Brown along the way.

Their lyrics and stage presence sometimes stirred things up, drawing accusations that they were promoting drug use or violence. That led to some censorship and boycotts at the time. But they kept at it, and their music found an audience with people who felt left out of the mainstream.