About Me
Cartola did not exist.
It was a dream that we had.
(Nelson Sargento)
Not many composers in Brazilian music are so intrinsically associated with Samba and its history as is Angenor de Oliveira, or Cartola (October 11, 1908 - November 30, 1980). Not only was he responsible for creating one of Brazil's most famous Samba Schools, the Mangueira, but he was also the composer of legendary hits such as "Acontece," "O Mundo É Um Moinho" and "As Rosas Não Falam" among several others. Revered by popular and erudite composers such as Nelson Cavaquinho, Paulinho da Viola and Heitor Villa-Lobos, Cartola is undeniably one of Brazil's greatest songwriters. He stands side by side with Tom Jobim, VinÃcius de Moraes, Ary Barroso, Pixinguinha, Chico Buarque and Caetano Veloso just to name a few. Cartola's music comes from the soul, and his verses carry profound and universal themes.
From humble origins in the hills of Rio de Janeiro, Cartola got his name because of the top hat he wore when he used to work as a brick layer, a job he maintained for many years even after becoming famous. In spite of his importance to Brazilian music, Cartola only recorded his first album at age 66, in 1974. When he passed away in 1980, he left a legacy of four albums and numerous songs. Various recordings of his music have been made by some of Brazil's most well known performers (Gal Costa, Arranco, Beth Carvalho, etc.). However, to capture the sadness and hope in Cartola's music, there is no one better than Cartola himself.
