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Artist
Jorge Ben
12+ albums
sambampbbrazilianBossa Novabrasil
about
Jorge Duílio Lima Menezes (born in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, on March 22, 1939), better known as Jorge Ben or Jorge Ben Jor, is a Brazilian multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. In 2008, Rolling Stone Brazil named him the 5th greatest artist in the history of Brazilian music. He was also included in the magazine’s 2012 list of the 30 Greatest Brazilian Icons of Guitar and Acoustic Guitar. His characteristic style includes various elements such as rock, samba, samba-rock, bossa nova, jazz, maracatu, funk, ska, and hip hop, with lyrics that mix humor and satire, as well as esoteric themes. Jorge Ben’s work holds a unique importance in Brazilian music for incorporating new elements into swing and in the way of playing the guitar, with characteristics of American rock, soul, and funk. In addition, he brought in Arab and African influences, inherited from his mother, who was born in Ethiopia. He influenced sambalanço and samba-rock and has been covered and honored by countless exponents of new generations of Brazilian music, such as Mundo Livre S/A, Os Paralamas do Sucesso, Skank, Fernanda Abreu, Racionais MC's, and Belô Velloso. Jorge Ben Jor broke out with the song “Mas Que Nada” and soon after confirmed his talent with another great success, “Chove Chuva.” These two songs were neither bossa nova nor samba. Purists thought his music was too modern. At the time, it was difficult for musicians to accompany him, so much so that his early records were made with a samba
