Belmonte & Amaraí

The caipira (hillbilly) duo Belmonte e Amaraí was the precursor to the contemporary sertanejo romântico style by including orchestras and electric guitars in their recordings as early as the '70s, even if they still were rootsy enough to specialize in the traditional repertory of guarânias, boleros, and Mexican rancheras. Not surprisingly, they crossed partners with another duo precursor of the romantic style, Tibagi e Miltinho, as Belmonte was a former member of a duo with Miltinho, and Amaraí with Tibagi. Formed in the mid-'60s, Belmonte e Amaraí recorded successful albums s...