Gerson King Combo

Born in Madureira (Rio de Janeiro suburb), Gerson started out his career doing playbacks at a TV show called Hoje É Dia de Rock. Then, taken by his brother (Getúlio Côrtes, songwriter of classics like "Negro Gato"), Gerson started dancing on the show Jovem Guarda, hosted by Roberto Carlos. As the soul music took over his body and mind, Gerson became a back up singer for Wilson Simonal and Erlon Chaves, and helped starting the band Banda Black Rio. As a solo artist, he dubbed himself Gerson King Combo (a homage to soul/jazz band King Curtis Combo) and tasted the height of his popularity as the king of the Black Balls in Rio. The two volumes of the LP series "Gerson King Combo" spread hits like "Mandamentos Black", "Jingle Black" and "O Rei Morreu". In the 90s, after being away from the music business for long years, Gerson started being recognized, due to his spoken interventions over a funk base, as a predecessor of Brazilian rap. He recorded with rap group Artigo 288 and has been performing in soul music gigs, always acclaimed by the younger audiences. (photo: Mariana Vitarelli)