Country: Brazil
Cidade Negra is a Brazilian reggae band formed in 1986 in Rio de Janeiro, known for blending reggae with strong influences of soul and rock music. Their songs often explore themes of love, social awareness, and everyday life. The band first rose to national prominence in 1991 with the album Lute pra Viver, which featured the radio hit “Falar a Verdade.” In its early years, the group featured Ras Bernardo as lead vocalist before undergoing key lineup changes. A major turning point came in 1993 when Toni Garrido, formerly of Banda Bel, joined as lead singer, helping shape the band’s most successful era. Cidade Negra became widely popular in Brazil during the 1990s, with songs frequently featured in television soap operas, particularly on Rede Globo. Their visibility expanded further in 2002 with Acústico MTV: Cidade Negra, which included the hit “Girassol,” and Garrido’s role as a TV presenter on the reality show Fama boosted the band’s mainstream appeal. In the mid-2000s, Cidade Negra continued to release new projects and celebrate milestones, including a 20-year anniversary DVD in 2006. After leaving Sony BMG in 2007, the band released Diversão through EMI Music. Garrido exited the group in 2008 and was briefly replaced by Alexandre Massau, but this phase was short-lived. Toni Garrido officially returned to Cidade Negra in January 2011, reuniting the classic lineup and reaffirming the band’s enduring place in Brazilian reggae history.
Gallery
