The band was created from the Radio Program "Lyra de Xopotó", hosted by the DJ Paulo Roberto, at Rádio Nacional from 1954, and was directed to incentive the music bands in the country. The program was aired on Saturdays and had the Maestro Lyrio Panicalli as the main arranger. The program was a dialog between Paulo Roberto and Mestre Filó, a fictitious character represented by the comedian/musician Jararaca. As the program became a success, the band that played on it started recording.
The first record was releasde by Sinter, in 1954, with the dobrados "Capitão Francisco Senna Sobrinho" and "Sonhador", both composed by Lyrio Panicalli. In the same year, the band also recorded "Capitão Miranda Pinto" and the quadrilha "Quadrilha", both also by Lyrio Panicalli. On the next year, 1955, the polka "Julieta" and the waltz "Saudade", both by Lyrio Panically as well were released.
The first record was releasde by Sinter, in 1954, with the dobrados "Capitão Francisco Senna Sobrinho" and "Sonhador", both composed by Lyrio Panicalli. In the same year, the band also recorded "Capitão Miranda Pinto" and the quadrilha "Quadrilha", both also by Lyrio Panicalli. On the next year, 1955, the polka "Julieta" and the waltz "Saudade", both by Lyrio Panically as well were released.
In 1957, the band re-recorded with great success the maxixe "Cristo Nasceu Na Bahia", by Sebastião Cirino and Duque. On the next record it was included the polka "Mestre Filó", by Radamés Gnattali, inspired on the character represented by Jararaca. Still in 1957, the band released two more LP's containing Carnival Music from the years 1928 to 1946 - the golden period of the Samba Classics, like "Camisa Amarela", by Assis Valente, "Feitiço Da Vila" and "Com Que Roupa", both by Noel Rosa.
With the arrangements made by Jararaca, the record was a hit on the Carnival that year, being played on several parties in town. Ary Vasconcelos wrote on the back cover: "The formula to create a great samba like these seems to be lost today - who knows if it can be rediscovered while listening to this Long Playing".
In 1958 the band recorded Christmas songs like "Noite Feliz (Silent Night)" by Franz Gruber and "Jingle Bells", being this last one arranged by Lyrio Panicalli.
In 1960, the band released a last album with the dobrado "São Paulo Quatrocentão", by Garoto and Chiquinho, and the marcha "Me Dá Um Dinheiro Aí", by Ivan Ferreira, Homero Ferreira and Glauco Ferreira. With the ending of the program at Rádio Nacional, the band quit after recording 10 78rpm's and a few LP's.
Dicionário Cravo Albim da Música Brasileira
A Lyra De Xopotó
01. Mocinho do Circo (Lyrio Panically) • 3:08
02. Arregaça a Saia (Lyrio Panically) • 1:55
03. Saudade De Queluz (Lyrio Panically) • 2:44
04. Capitão Miranda Pinto (Lyrio Panically) • 2:35
05. Sonhador (Lyrio Panically) • 3:25
06. Julieta (Lyrio Panically) • 2:31
07. Quadrilha (Lyrio Panically) • 2:35
08. Capitão Francisco Senna Sobrinho (Lyrio Panically) • 2:28
