Sertaneja duo Gino & Geno initiated their recording career during the genre's earliest stages, in 1970. Active for several years in the first half of the '70s, the group broke through into the Brazilian mainstream with the hit record As Águas do São Francisco. After generating an impressive discography throughout the late '70s and '80s, the duo did little performing or recording during the '90s. After a long period of inactivity, Gino & Geno re-emerged in 2000, finding the genre that they had helped to build enjoying widespread popularity. The sertaneja forefathers wasted no time in releasing the record that heralded their return to center stage, Coração Cigano. A longtime fan of Gino & Geno's music, Rick of the popular duo Rick & Renner has collaborated with the industry veterans, producing a number of their recent recordings and helping to retool their classic sound for modern audiences. Gino & Geno's charming live presence has been captured on the popular live CD and DVD productions Ao Vivo and A Galera do Chapéu: Ao Vivo, the latter of which is the group's 22nd original recording. Gino & Geno's entire catalog has recently been purchased and re-released by EMI International. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez