Skank
This reggae-rock quartet are from Minas Gerais, a region located north of Rio de Janeiro which is known for the almost mystical ambience that permeates cities like Belo Horizonte and Tres Pontas. Brazilian icon Milton Nascimento is a native of Minas Gerais, as are Beto Guedes, L Borges and Toninho Horta. A band like Skank, of course, has very little in common with the music of Nascimento, but the common origin can be felt, even if Skank has added ska, reggae and dance rock to traditional idioms such as the embolada and carimb¢. Unlike other Brazilian rock bands, the quartet, comprising Samuel Rosa (b. Samuel Rosa de Alvarenga, 15 July 1966, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; guitar, vocals), Lelo Zaneti (b. Marco Aurlio Moreira Zaneti, 26 December 1967, Sao Domingos da Prata, Brazil; bass), Henrique Portugal (b. Antonio Henrique Rocha Portugal, 19 March 1965, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; keyboards), and Haroldo Ferretti (b. Haroldo J£lio Ferretti de Souza, 17 June 1969, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; drums), is happy enough making party music that pulsates with effervescent sensuality, and the band's commercial aspirations have resulted in the sale of hundreds of thousand copies of their albums. Rosa writes most of the material with unofficial fifth member, saxophonist Chico Amaral. Although, initially they toiled on the Belo Horizonte bar circuit, their self-recorded demo was picked up by Sony Records and released as the band's debut CD, which sold a respectable 150,000 copies. A second album, 1994's Calango, followed by a gruelling tour schedule, propelled Skank into the national spotlight. By the time of the their third release, O Samba Pocon, they were among the most successful acts of the decade, outselling the likes of perennial superstar Roberto Carlos and claiming Jorge Ben and L Borges among their ardent fans. Their late 90s recording, Siderado, brought another set of ska-fuelled anthems, and like its predecessors it was not meant to be taken sitting down.
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