Cartola

Cartola was a Brazilian singer, composer, and poet who was one of the founders of the Estação Primeira de Mangueira samba school. He is considered one of the most important figures in the history of samba and Brazilian popular music. He composed more than 500 songs, many of which are considered classics of the genre, such as "As Rosas Não Falam", "O Mundo é um Moinho", "Alvorada", "Acontece", and "Preciso Me Encontrar". He also wrote sambas-enredo for Mangueira, such as "Vale do São Francisco" and "Divina Dama". Cartola was born in 1908 in the Catete neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. He got his nickname because of the bowler hat he wore to protect his hair from the cement while working as a construction worker. He learned to play the cavaquinho and the guitar from his father, who was also a musician. He grew up in the Mangueira hill, where he met other samba enthusiasts, such as Carlos Cachaça, Nelson Cavaquinho, and Clementina de Jesus. He was one of the organizers of the first samba group in Mangueira, called Bloco dos Arengueiros, which later became the Estação Primeira de Mangueira samba school. He also suggested the colors green and pink for the school, inspired by an old carnival ranch. ¹² Cartola started his musical career in the late 1920s, when he recorded his first compositions with Francisco Alves, one of the most popular singers of the time. He also performed in radio shows and nightclubs, gaining recognition for his talent and originality. However, he faced many difficulties in his personal life, such as poverty, illness, and alcoholism. He lost his first wife, Deolinda, to tuberculosis, and his second wife, Donária, left him after he contracted meningitis. He also disappeared from the musical scene for several years, working as a car washer and a cook. He was rediscovered in the 1950s by journalist Sérgio Porto, who helped him to record his first album in 1956. He also met his third wife, Zica, who encouraged him to quit drinking and supported him until his death. ¹² Cartola achieved his greatest success in the 1970s, when he recorded four albums that are considered masterpieces of samba. He also collaborated with other artists, such as Elizeth Cardoso, Paulinho da Viola, Nara Leão, and João Nogueira. He received many awards and honors for his contributions to Brazilian culture, such as the Ordem do Mérito Cultural and the Medalha Pedro Ernesto. He died in 1980, at the age of 72, from cancer. He was buried in the Cemitério do Caju, where many of his fans and friends paid tribute to him. His legacy lives on in his songs, which are still performed and recorded by many artists, and in his influence on the development of samba and Brazilian music. ¹²