by Alvaro Neder
A phenomenon of the sertanejo (Brazilian country) music, the duo Zezé Di Camargo & Luciano have sold 16 million copies of the ten albums they have recorded between 1991 to 2000. Since 1998, they have been expanding their niche through the incorporation of arrangements, songs, and stage persona borrowed from pop and romantic repertory. Zezé Di Camargo became a successful composer after Chit?ozinho e Xororó, Leandro e Leonardo, and Sula Miranda had hits with his songs. Then he had the opportunity to record with his brother, Luciano. Zezé di Camargo & Luciano was released in 1991 and had the hits "é O Amor" (recorded later by Maria Bethania) and "Eu Te Amo," which were included in the soundtrack of the soap opera Perigosas Peruas. The album sold more than 1.1 million copies. The second album, released the next year, had success with "Cora??o Está Em Peda?os," "Muda de Vida," and "Cora??o Na Contram?o." The third album had the participation of Willie Nelson on the track "Eu só Penso Em Você," a version of "Always On My Mind," and exploded with "Saudade Bandida" and "Faz Mais Uma Vez Comigo." The fourth record sold more than 1.5 million copies with "Vem Cuidar de Mim." 1995 marked their approximation with the Hispanic market, as the new album had Spanish versions of their hits. In 1996, they had already reached the cipher of selling seven million copies of their previous albums. In the next year, "Toma Juízo" and "Felicidade, Que Saudade de Você" propelled the sale of over 1.6 million copies. Julio Iglesias' recording of Di Camargo's "Dois Amigos" was another important accomplishment for the two upcountry brothers of humble origin. Their eighth release had the hit "Pra N?o Pensar em Você" and sold 1.5 million copies. The first live album was recorded in 2000, having some of their biggest hits: "Vem Ficar Comigo," "Vivendo por Viver," "Cora??o Está em Peda?os," "Felicidade, Que saudade de Você," "P?o de Mel," and "Amor Selvagem."
