César Menotti & Fabiano

As sertaneja climbed in popularity, many of the style's important artists would find themselves moving quickly from obscurity to center stage. Such was certainly the case for César Menotti & Fabiano, who follow the common sertaneja rubric of a duo featuring a primary vocalist (Fabiano) and an accompanying guitarist (Menotti). After signing a deal with Universal Music, the duo released its debut record in 2004. The album and accompanying DVD, titled Palavras de Amor ao Vivo, proved a lasting success with Brazilian audiences, with a presence on national charts for over two years after it was released. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez