Gerson King Combo

Gerson "King" Combo (November 30, 1943 - September 22, 2020) was a Brazilian musician, one of the country's soul music icons, where he is known as the Brazilian James Brown. Gerson Combo was born in the city of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, began his artistic career doing voice acting, e.g. on the famous program Hoje É Dia De Rock presented by Jair de Taumaturgo. Then his brother [a6567048] (author of Negro Gato, as sang by Roberto Carlos) took him to dance in the Jovem Guarda program, presented by none other than Roberto himself. Influenced by black music, Gerson sang in bands with Erlon Chaves and Simonal, the band Formula 7, and was part of the embryo of Banda Black Rio. Solo he adopted the name Gerson King Combo (alluding to a soul music band called King Curtis Combo). His James Brown epigonism caused a sensation and he was acclaimed King of Rio blacks balls. In 1969 he recorded his debut album Brazilian Soul, which featured versions of classic Brazilian music such as Asa Branca Luiz Gonzaga, but his biggest hits were released in the mid-1970s, viz. Mandamentos Black, Jingle Black and O Rei Morreu. His last success was recorded in 1984: Melô Do Mão Branca about the fall of the black movement of the 1980s in the scenario music. Later Combo was ostracized. He returned in the 1990s doing some gigs and recording the comeback album Mensageiro Da Paz. He died due to generalized infection and complications of diabetes after sudden hospitalization.

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