Pena Branca & Xavantinho (1962 - 1999) were the artistic names of José Ramiro Sobrinho e Ranulfo Ramiro da Silva, one of Brazil’s most original and artistic duos in sertaneja (country) music. The brothers were also celebrated for innovatively including in their repertory pieces by urban composers like Djavan, Caetano Veloso, and Milton Nascimento. Their version of “Cio da Terra” by Chico Buarque and Milton Nascimento became a big hit in the 1980s. The duo is partly responsible for taking sertaneja/country music to a more sophisticated urban audience, helping bring about respect and critical recognition to a genre that had been largely overlooked.
The quality of their interpretations was acknowledged by artists like Milton Nascimento, Fagner, Almir Sater, Tião Carreiro, and Renato Teixeira. They received four Prêmio Sharp awards and an APCA, the most prestigious awards in the Brazilian music industry. In 1993, their success took them to international performances in the U.S.
The two brothers started to sing together in 1961 on Rádio Educadora (Uberlândia, Minas Gerais). Six years later, Xavantinho moved to São Paulo, found a place to stay and, by letter, requested his brother's presence one year later. In 1980, they were heard by Renato Teixeira, who arranged for them to record their first LP, Velha Morada, that same year. Still in 1980, they qualified Xavantinho's "Que Terreiro É Esse?" on TV Globo's MPB Shell Festival. Their original interpretation of Milton Nascimento/Chico Buarque's "O Cio da Terra" (also included on that album) made national success in 1981 on Rolando Boldrin's TV show Som Brasil. Decidedly involved in a rootsy conception of work, they received the support of several artists like Nascimento, who performed with them on Som Brasil in 1982, on the TV Globo special Chico & Caetano and, in 1995, at the Teatro Municipal (Rio de Janeiro), when Nascimento was paid tribute on the night of the Prêmio Sharp award. In 1987, their LP O Cio da Terra had the participation of Nascimento, Tavinho Moura, and Marcus Viana, selling 300,000 copies. In 1991, they were awarded with three Prêmios Sharp (Best Duo, Best Song for "Casa de Barro" by Xavantinho/Moniz, and Best Album for Cantadô de Mundo Afora). The next year, Renato Teixeira & Pena Branca e Xavantinho were awarded with a Prêmio Sharp and by the Association of Art Critics of São Paulo (APCA), in 1999 reaching the cipher of 100,000 copies sold. The duo continued to perform and record together until Xavantinho's demise in October 1999. Pena Branca carried on their work as a solo artist.
~ Alvaro Neder, All Music Guide .