Lula Côrtes

A painter, poet, and musician from Recife, Lula Côrtes was among the first to combine rhythms from Brazil’s Northeast with rock. In 1973, he shared the LP Satwa with Lailson, made without a major record company; two years later, he recorded Paêbirú with Zé Ramalho, almost the entire pressing of which was destroyed in a flood. In 1976, he played in Alceu Valença’s band. Rosa de Sangue, recorded for Rozenblit during the 1970s, was released by the American label Time-Lag in 2009, although some sources date it to 1980; Cravo Albin identifies O Gosto Novo da Vida, released by Ariola, as his first solo album. During the 1980s, he continued with the band Má Companhia, published books of poetry, and died in Recife in 2011 from throat cancer.