What Eduardo Leite said about pay public tribute to deceased artists

"I know I will not die, because from me will remain the world I built, my Rio Grande, my home." Today Rio Grande do Sul bids farewell to Bagre Fagundes, one of the great names of our popular culture and regional music. At 86, he departs, but leaves exactly what his own work announced: a legacy that will remain alive in the culture, in the tradition and in the music of our people. A folklorist, composer, singer and instrumentalist, Bagre dedicated his life to preserving and disseminating gaúcho traditions, offering an invaluable contribution to the identity and memory of our State. Alongside his brother Nico and, later, the entire Fagundes family, he built a trajectory that spans generations, bringing the music, history and customs of the Rio Grande to stages, to homes and to the hearts of the gaúchos. He was also one of the authors of one of the greatest symbols of our identity: Canto Alegretense. Transformed into a true informal anthem of Rio Grande do Sul, the song crossed generations and borders, becoming an expression of the gaúchos' pride, sense of belonging and love for their land. In recognition of the greatness of this legacy, the State Government will pay Bagre Fagundes a final tribute by hosting his wake at the Palácio Piratini. It will be a way of giving thanks, on behalf of all gaúchos, to the man who dedicated his life to singing, preserving and strengthening our culture. My condolences to the family, to his children Neto, Ernesto, Paulinho and Luciana, to friends and to all admirers. May they find comfort in the certainty that Bagre Fagundes will remain present in every chord, every verse and every manifestation of gaúcho culture, a heritage he so loved and helped to preserve.