TDSounds

Agenor de Oliveira, known as Cartola; one of the greatest composers in samba history and founder of the samba school Mangueira. He lived in relative obscurity and poverty, working as a  porter, a groom, a labourer,  only receiving recognition late in life . But he wrote over 500 songs, many of them classics, and was responsible for several of Mangueiras samba enredos as well as being the first director of harmony of the school. His first opportunity to record an LP of his own songs came when he was 65, only a few years before his death in 1980, aged 72. This record, 'Cartola', produced by Discos Marcos Perreira, is considered by many to be the most important samba recording of all time.

One of his songs, Alvorada, has become well known internationally since featuring in the film 'Cidade De Deus'  Here is the man himself, singing it live. Lyrics and translation below.