FRR

Forró

Since 1946Where Pernambuco, Paraíba, Ceará and the whole NortheastSubgenres 6Artists 60

Luiz Gonzaga invented the accordion, zabumba and triangle trio and launched baião in 1946; 'Asa Branca' is the anthem of the sertão. From xote and xaxado to pé-de-serra, forró reached the universities in the 1990s, the huge stages of Fortaleza's electronic forró and, in the 2020s, piseiro.

If you like…

If you like zydeco, cajun, polka or accordion party music, forró is danced in pairs and addictive.

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1947Asa BrancaLuiz Gonzaga
1946BaiãoLuiz Gonzaga
1959Chiclete com BananaJackson do Pandeiro
1973Eu Só Quero um XodóDominguinhos
1983AnunciaçãoAlceu Valença
2000Xote da AlegriaFalamansa
2019RecaireiBarões da Pisadinha
2020Meu Pedaço de PecadoJoão Gomes

Subgenres

Baião

Since 1946 · 2 artists

Brazilian heritage · IPHAN 2021

The rhythm Gonzaga took to national radio; it influenced everyone from Hermeto Pascoal to Raul Seixas.

Luiz Gonzaga Dominguinhos

Xote and xaxado

Since 1949 · 3 artists

Brazilian heritage · IPHAN 2021

Ballroom xote and the xaxado of the cangaceiros, taken to record by Luiz Gonzaga and Marinês.

Luiz Gonzaga Trio Nordestino Marinês

Pé-de-serra forró

Since 1950 · 23 artists

Brazilian heritage · IPHAN 2021

Xote, baião and arrasta-pé with the traditional trio: Dominguinhos, Trio Nordestino, Falamansa.

Zé Ramalho Jackson do Pandeiro Dominguinhos Sivuca Trio Nordestino Elba Ramalho Marinês Genival Lacerda Oswaldinho do Acordeon Anastácia Flávio José Mestre Ambrósio Mestrinho Alcymar Monteiro Dorgival Dantas Jorge de Altinho Lucy Alves Nando Cordel+5

Forró universitário

Since 1998 · 3 artists

Pé-de-serra rediscovered by São Paulo's young people in the late 1990s: Falamansa, Rastapé, Bicho de Pé.

Falamansa Rastapé Bicho de Pé

Electronic forró

Since 1990 · 22 artists

Fortaleza, 1990s: keyboards, horns and huge stage bands (Mastruz com Leite, Aviões do Forró, Wesley Safadão).

Mastruz com Leite Wesley Safadão Calcinha Preta Aviões do Forró Garota Safada Mari Fernandez Nattan Limão com Mel Magníficos Solange Almeida Xand Avião Bonde do Forró Cavaleiros do Forró Forró do Muído Jonas Esticado Mano Walter Raphaela Santos Saia Rodada+4

Piseiro

Since 2019 · 14 artists

Sped-up forró with the 'pisadinha' keyboard: Barões da Pisadinha, João Gomes, Zé Vaqueiro.

Barões da Pisadinha João Gomes Léo Foguete Mari Fernandez Natanzinho Lima Nattan Tarcísio do Acordeon Zé Vaqueiro Eric Land Felipe Amorim Henry Freitas Iguinho e Lulinha Japãozin Vitor Fernandes

Essential albums 6

1976
Domingo, Menino Dominguinhos
Dominguinhos
One of the accordionist's key albums of the 1970s.
1979
Ave de Prata
Elba Ramalho
Debut of the voice of forró and northeastern MPB.
1982
Cavalo de Pau
Alceu Valença
Frevo and forró with "Tropicana".
2000
Deixa Entrar
Falamansa
Debut of university forró, with "Xote da Alegria"; sold millions.
2021
Eu Tenho a Senha
João Gomes
The debut of romantic piseiro.
2025
Dominguinho
João Gomes, Mestrinho e Jota.pê
Album of the year at the Prêmio Multishow.

Albums →

Artists

ForróS

Luiz Gonzaga

Solo · 1941 · PE

The "King of Baião": "Asa Branca" (1947), "Baião", "Olha pro Céu"; invented the accordion, zabumba and triangle trio.