With 7 years old Júlio learns to play mandolin with his father. During his teenage years he takes part in several rock bands such as Xarhanga and Petrus Castrus, with whom he records four albums.
From his 20's (the year of April 74's revolution in Portugal) till his 30's, he collaborates - in concert and records - with the most important composers of Portugal, highlights to his collaboration with José Afonso - since 1979 - with whom he collaborates regularly playing in several countries of the world and co-producing José’s last records.
Still in that decade, Júlio works as a musician in some theater groups with directors such as Augusto Boal, Águeda Sena and João Perry. He also records his first solo albums as an author: Bota-Fora, Fernandinho vai ó vinho, Lisboémia and Mãos de Fada.
In 1981 Júlio releases the album Cavaquinho, a work that opened new doors to the Portuguese music, entirely instrumental, and a result of a long research - winning all the music awards of Portugal - beginning his way as instrumentist.
From 1983 till 2003 Júlio launched regularly the following records, some of them awarded: Braguesa 1983, Nortada 1983, Cadoi 1984, Os sete instrumentos 1986, Miradouro 1987 Janelas Verdes 1990, O meu Bandolim 1991, Acústico 1994, Lau Eskutara 1995 (recorded in the Basque Country, Spain with Kepa Junkera), Rituais 2000 (that was the basis to the choreography with the same name, of Rui Lopes Graça and the ballet dancers of Companhia Nacional de Bailado), and Faz-de-conta 2003 (the first multimedia CD for children in Portugal).
Júlio then continues to perform in several concerts around the world, producing, orchestrating and participating as multi-instrumentist in multiple albums of other authors while collaborating, at the same time with several names of music, such as: Kepa Junkera, Pete Seeger, Mestisay and The Chieftains - with whom he records the album Santiago that won a Grammy Award in 1995.
In 2006 Júlio collaborates in the film Fados, from Carlos Saura, with Chico Buarque and Carlos do Carmo, producing the theme "Fado tropical".
Still with the Mandolin, he records in 2008 the album Geografias and creates a concert with the same name. Performing in Portugal and other countries around the world.
In 2010 Júlio releases the album Graffiti, an album that counts with the participation of singers from different countries: Dulce Pontes, Maria João, Sara Tavares, Olga Cerpa (Spain), Nancy Vieira (Cape Verde) e Luanda Cozetti (Brazil).
For all concerts made during these years, it stands out the one Júlio directed in the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris (2012), a tribute to José Afonso with current artists as António Zambujo, Mayra Andrade, João Afonso, etc..
In 2013 he turns to cavaquinho and records the album Cavaquinho.pt as the star for a new phase, focused on this instrument. For this, Júlio constitutes the Cultural Association Museu Cavaquinho that aims to document, preserve and promote the history and practice of this instrument.
Júlio Pereira has 20 author albums and participates as instrumentalist, music director or producer in about 80 albuns of other artists.
In 2015, Júlio was awarded a Medal of Honor by SPA - Portuguese Society of Authors as well as the Grand Officer of Infante D.Henrique Order, awarded by the State of Portugal.
