Falamansa

Falamansa originated in 1998 when its members assembled exclusively to enter a university festival. Tato had already submitted his composition “Asas,” written with Ricardo Cruz, and listed the nonexistent group as the accompanying band; only after securing the entry did he recruit Deizinho and Alemão, together with a flutist and a bassist whose tenures proved brief. The quartet took second place. Shortly afterward Josivaldo Leite, Waldir do Acordeon—who had previously worked with Osvaldinho do Acordeon—and Jorge de Altinho joined the lineup. Once the expanded ensemble had cultivated a loyal following across the forró circuit in São Paulo and neighboring states, they entered the studio in 2000 to record their debut album, Deixa Entrar, which centered on the classic forró pé-de-serra instrumentation of zabumba, triangle, and accordion. Immediate successes included the instrumental title track, “Xote dos Milagres,” and “Zeca Violeiro,” all penned by Tato, alongside “Principiando/Decolando” by Waldir do Acordeon and “Confidência” by Jorge de Altinho with Accioly Neto; within months the release moved one million copies.