Having recorded 12 albums and being awarded in national and international festivals, Jessé was impeded by his precocious demise of reaching a higher stature in Brazilian popular music. Starting his artistic career in São Paulo as a crooner, Jessé also became a singer in groups such as Placa Luminosa, with which he played at balls around Brazil. His big break was with "Porto Solidão" (Zeca Bahia/Ginko), for which he was awarded as Best Interpreter of the MPB Shell Festival (TV Globo, 1980). In 1983, he was awarded as Best Interpreter, Best Arrangement, and Best Song in the XII OTI Festival in Washington, D.C., with "Estrelas de Papel" (with Elifas Andreato). ~ Alvaro Neder