Baitaca, artistic name of Antônio César Pereira Jacques (born December 23, 1965), is a Brazilian singer and songwriter known for his traditional "
gaúcho
A gaucho () or gaúcho () is a skilled horseman, reputed to be brave and unruly. The figure of the gaucho is a folk symbol of Argentina, Uruguay, Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, and the south of Chilean Patagonia. Gauchos became greatly admired and ...
" music style. In his compositions, some lyrics carry double meanings and tell stories about life in rural settings. He experienced a resurgence in 2019 with the song ''"
Do Fundo da Grota,"'' which gained popularity through
live performances
''Live Performance'' is a live album by Jake Thackray. Recorded at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London in 1970, it was released on LP by EMI in 1971 and reissued in 1976. An expanded version was released on CD in 2006.
Thackray was uncomforta ...
by singers during the
2020 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified ...
. His repertoire includes other hits like ''"A História do Tico Loco," "Baitaca Com Seu Jeito Simples,"'' and ''"Querido Encanta a Todos."''
Biography
Baitaca was born in the locality of ''Rincão dos Pintos'', in the countryside of ''
São Luiz Gonzaga
São Luiz Gonzaga (Portuguese for St. Aloysius Gonzaga) is a municipality of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Its population is 33,293 (2020 est.) in an area of 1295,68 km². It was founded in the 17th century as a Jesuit mission tow ...
''. He inherited the nickname from his grandfather, whose name refers to the ''"maitaca,"'' a bird from the parrot family. At the age of 14, he won first place in a ''
trova
''Trova'' is a style of Cuban popular music originating in the 19th century. Trova was created by itinerant musicians known as ''trovadores'' who travelled around Cuba's Oriente province, especially Santiago de Cuba, and earned their living by s ...
'' competition in the children's category at
CTG ''Sinos'' in ''
São Miguel''. He started working as a ranch hand, and in his spare time, he composed and sang songs. While in Porto Alegre, he worked as a construction laborer, composing ''trovas'' while working with his boss at the time, ''Paulo Alves (Paulinho)''. In 1996, at the age of 31, he made his first
recording on a
cassette tape
The Compact Cassette or Musicassette (MC), also commonly called the tape cassette, cassette tape, audio cassette, or simply tape or cassette, is an analog magnetic tape recording format for audio recording and playback. Invented by Lou Ottens ...
, and the following year, he released his first album: ''"Destrinchando o Bagualismo."'' He became well known for songs like ''"História do Tico Loco"'' and ''"Do fundo da grota."'' In 2014, he was honored by the City Council of
Vacaria
Vacaria is a municipality in the northeast of the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.
It is located at a latitude of 28° 30' 44" South and a longitude of 50° 56' 02" west, with an altitude of 971 meters. Its population in 2020 was ...
, which awarded him the "''Troféu Candeeiro Farrapo."'' In 2022, Baitaca receives the "Medal of Farroupilha Merit" (in
portuguese: ''Medalha do Mérito Farroupilha'') by the
Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul.
Discography
Studio albums
* 1997 – ''Destrinchando o Bagualismo''
* 2001 – ''História do Tico Louco''
* 2001 – ''Rodeio Campeiro • USA Discos''
* 2002 – ''Meu Rio Grande é Deste Jeito (Volume 2) • Gravadora Vozes''
* 2003 – ''Vida de Campeiro • USA Discos''
* 2006 – ''Bailanta da Boneca • USA Discos''
* 2008 – ''Baitaca Canta Francisco Vargas • USA Discos''
* 2009 – ''Marca de Campo • ACIT''
* 2010 – ''Estampa de Galpão • Gravadora Vozes''
* 2012 – ''Da Doma Pro Rodeio • Gravadora Vozes''
* 2013 ''- Campeiro Não Tem Enfeite • ACIT''
* 2016 – ''De Campeiro Pra Campeiro • Vertical Records''
* 2020 – ''Galponeiro e Aporreado • Lead Studio''
Live albums
* 2007 – ''Baitaca – Ao Vivo • USA Discos''
Compilations
* 2005 – ''Para Sempre Sucessos''
* 2014 – ''O Melhor do Baitaca (Volume 1) • Gravadora Vozes''
DVDs
* 2010 – ''Reformando a Mulher Véia • USA Discos''
* 2012 – ''Do Fundo da Grota • USA Discos''
References
{{reflist
Brazilian singer-songwriters
Latin music
1965 births
Living people