Group, 1980 – ?

Ramiro Mendes and João Mendes left the island of Fogo in 1978, heading to the USA, where their parents and older brother were. Soon after, they formed a band with the latter, Otílio, to play Cape Verdean and Angolan music, as João Mendes mentions on the cover of the album Bandera, since the independence of the country in 1974, they had contact with records and sounds brought by Cape Verdeans who returned to the archipelago. In 1980, the keyboardist Nono, from Haiti, is invited to join the group, writing original songs and acting as musical director. In 1983, the first album is released, titled LP Novo Método, which features, in addition to the three Mendes Brothers and a cousin, Henrique, Maria de Barros as vocalist and other non-Cape Verdean musicians. 

 Otílio passed away in the mid-1980s, and Ramiro and João continued with the group. However, they decided to study: João chose business administration and Ramiro studied classical guitar, in addition to attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, specializing in commercial arrangement and movie soundtracks. They completed their studies in 1993 and in that same year the second album of the group is released, Palonkon, in which Ramiro played all the string instruments and did the drum arrangements and programming. The only additional musician who appears is Djim Job, on bass on four of the ten tracks. This bassist would appear in practically all of the group’s albums, alongside Philip Monteiro (keyboards) in the next album, Bandera – which in 1996 received the Boston Music Awards in the World Music category – and Kalu Monteiro (drums and percussion) in Torri di control. Wind instruments are occasional collaborations with musicians external to the Cape Verdean musical universe. 

The base line-up of the Mendes Brothers is João on vocals and Ramiro on string instruments, vocals, arrangements and electronic equipment programming, and eventually on keyboards and percussions. Both composed the songs recorded by the duo. 

The group’s repertoire is based on dance music such as koladera and rhythms linked to flag festivals, a tradition from the island of Fogo and Angolan rhythms such as semba.  

The Mendes Brothers created their own label, MB Records Inc., with their own studios, where a series of albums by PALOP artists were produced from the mid 1990s onwards. Later the venture was renamed MB Global Media. Ramiro Mendes, in turn, works individually as an arranger and producer for several artists. 

Discography 

• Novo método, LP, e/a, Brockton, 1983. Reedição em CD Sons d’África, Série Sodade 7. 
• Palonkon, CD, MBR, Brockton, 1993. 
• Torri di control, CD, MBR, Brockton, 1996. 
• Para Angola com um xi coração, CD, MBR, Brockton, 1997 (group’s music compilation allusive to Angola). 
• Satélite Zamby, CD, MBR, Brockton, 1999. 
• Cabo Verde, Kabu Verdi, CD, MBR, Brockton, 2006. 
• Porton de regresso – 1, CD, MB Gobal Media, Los Angeles, USA, 2010. 
• Participation in Diplomadu, CD, MBR, Brockton, 1995. Although without using the name Mendes Brothers, João and Ramiro participated in this project. 

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