Nando Cordel

Nando Cordel built a thriving career as a songwriter across Brazil’s northeastern traditions, including xote, baião and frevo, as well as salsa, reggae and additional styles. Numerous performers have committed his material to disc, among them Jorge de Altinho, who cut “Com Você Eu Vou,” “É Só Dengo Dengo” and, together with Dominguinhos, “Estrela do Amor.” Further recordings of his work appear in the catalogs of Maria Bethânia, Emílio Santiago, Zizi Possi, Netinho, Leandro e Leonardo, Fagner, Fafá de Belém, Amelinha, Guilherme Arantes, Nana Caymmi, Fábio Júnior, Roupa Nova, Martinho da Vila, Luiz Gonzaga and Geraldo Azevedo. By 2001 Cordel had released eighteen albums under his own name, while five hundred of his pieces had found their way onto releases by an array of other artists. Several of those compositions also surfaced in nationally televised telenovelas such as Roque Santeiro, Tieta, Pedra Sobre Pedra, Sexo dos Anjos, A Indomada and Tropicaliente.

Collaborating with Dominguinhos, Cordel supplied the songs “Gostoso Demais,” “Faz de Mim” and “Isso Aqui Tá Bom Demais.” Their initial joint effort, “De Volta Pro Meu Aconchego,” became a major success once Elba Ramalho recorded it; she went on to interpret several more Cordel titles, including “Jogo de Cintura,” “Doida,” “Tem Que Ter Molejo,” “Vem Ficar Comigo” and “Vê Estrelas.” Xuxa likewise scored hits with “Hoje É Dia de Folia” and “Brasil Argentina,” the latter also popular in Argentina. In addition to extensive touring throughout Brazil, Cordel has appeared in Italy, Germany and France.